POLI 347 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: John Stuart Mill, Critical Legal Studies, Legal Education
Document Summary
Plato: the tyrant, the rule of law, and the philosopher-ruler. Contrasts law w/tyranny; the problem with tyranny is that there are no citizens. The fear developed by tyrants eliminates the possibility of civilization. Law provides as a framework for diversity and is therefore important. Concerns for the future/critiques of law: people don"t appreciate what they have, putin wants to re-create the soviet union. 2 theories of law: law is a neutral system of rules that provides peace and order w/options (hyek) Letwin favors this one: law has a purpose that creates a certain kind a citizen with a certain kind of life. A form of education that pushes you in a direction (aristotle) Plato"s life: 427-347 bc; athens: the death of socrates. Plato on law: a) the crito; b) the republic; c) the statesman, the laws. Tyranny is the worst regime, democracy is the second worse. Democracy leads to tyranny because it breaks down by the equality of everyone"s opinions.
