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Full Idea
Mosaic law meant that God ruled through his laws, and since all were equally subject to the law, the system was the first to embody the double merits of the rule of law and equality before the law.
Gist of Idea
Mosaic law was the first to embody the rule of law, and equality before the law
Source
Paul Johnson (The History of the Jews [1987], Pt I)
Book Ref
Johnson,Paul: 'A History of the Jews' [Phoenix 1993], p.40
A Reaction
If this is correct, it seems to be a hugely important step, combined with Idea 1659, that revenge should be the action of a the state, not of the individual. They are the few simple and essential keys to civilization.
Related Ideas
Idea 1659 Protagoras seems to have made the huge move of separating punishment from revenge [Protagoras, by Vlastos]
Idea 7810 The 'Eumenides' of Aeschylus shows blood feuds replaced by law [Aeschylus, by Grayling]
| 21407 | Equality is not being bound in ways you cannot bind others [Kant] |
| 21076 | Equality is where you cannot impose a legal obligation you yourself wouldn't endure [Kant] |
| 7340 | Mosaic law was the first to embody the rule of law, and equality before the law [Johnson,P] |
| 18654 | Marxists say justice is unneeded in the truly good community [Kymlicka] |