Justice and the Law

 Been reading an interesting book on the rise of democracy in ancient Greece, or Athens, to be precise.

The Athenians had a special regard for justice, which they believed every person was able to discern, regardless of their biases. If they did wrong, they might try to justify it using all manner of tricks but, in their heart of hearts, they knew they'd done wrong.

A respect for justice must not be confused with respect for the law, as many bad laws are made and, as we all know from history, many laws were made by the one section of society or another to protect their position, wealth or influence. Laws are revised all the time because of this. Laws are merely an attempt to codify, however imperfectly, natural justice, free from bias.

Below is an excerpt from the Funeral Oration of Pericles, the foremost statesman of his age who, despite a law stating politicians should serve only one term, was elected time after time, due to his successes and acknowledged incorruptibility: 

"Our form of government does not enter into rivalry with the institutions of others. Our government does not copy our neighbours', but is an example to them. It is true that we are called a democracy, for the administration is in the hands of the many and not of the few. But while there exists equal justice to all and alike in their private disputes, the claim of excellence is also recognized; and when a citizen is in any way distinguished, he is preferred to the public service, not as a matter of privilege, but as the reward of merit. Neither is poverty an obstacle, but a man may benefit his country whatever the obscurity of his condition. There is no exclusiveness in our public life, and in our private business we are not suspicious of one another, nor angry with our neighbour if he does what he likes; we do not put on sour looks at him which, though harmless, are not pleasant. While we are thus unconstrained in our private business, a spirit of reverence pervades our public acts; we are prevented from doing wrong by respect for the authorities and for the laws, having a particular regard to those which are ordained for the protection of the injured as well as those unwritten laws which bring upon the transgressor of them the reprobation of the general sentiment."