Why do we obey the law? The trial of Socrates

Must we obey the law? I suspect the answer for most is yes. This makes sense since the alternative -- a society where people pick and choose which laws they wish to be bound by -- sounds somewhat chaotic. Yet, not all agree as instances of civil disobedience the world over demonstrate on a daily basis.

The following clip is PART I in a series on obedience (and disobedience) to the law. Socrates offers a perspective on obedience that echoes with the position held by many of today's politicians, lawmakers and legal theorists. Others have suggested his position is overly simplistic and creates ideal conditions for manipulation and abuse.

[MichelleGrech]

I am finding these so informative and fun when I'm tired of reading I turn to a couple of these videos to see if I have understood. Thanks for sharing!! :)

[PringlesOriginal]

This is so interesting, it's interesting that positivists deem the validity of a law solely on who created the law (authority) and how it was created (procedure), it seems like to little too determine the validity/legitamacy of a law. It's surely possible for establishments who have the authority to create laws, and for them to follow the correct procedure and still enact a law that would be deemed unjust/immoral, I mean a lot of history would prove that. I am still new to understanding legal positivism, I have yet to see how they argue the validity of law based on just those foundations. Thankyou so much for such a helpful introduction!

[pingandpop]

What if the authority lost their authority or the procedure changed - or both. So the fundamental norms change. Would the law still be valid?

[sbfable]

I wonder how the trial of Socrates would go down in modern day America..  

[shauryanarang]

So this is like Socrates saying ok your house your rules

[OrderRealm]

I have one life to live and I do not waste it following the petty laws of men

[fajrimatahati]

Salaam.. may I ask. Is it just me, or discussions on theory of law like this usually skips Islamic law theories? If it is really so, I wonder why that is so?

[Xstine]

What is "Legal"..is not always Right. Nor *Moral* ..Nor Just.

[bottomhead]

Socrates accepted the validity of law but not its morality. An unjust law is still law to Socrates, but unjust laws should be broken; therefore, Socrates was following a higher law in order to deliver Athenian law to the ideal form.

[Vatan_Parast]

Are u Persian? I just saw ur name is mohsen? .. Lol sorry for the randomness

[robertmitchell]

Law = 36 | Wal ... w(DNA) AL (light) the 6th note (6=Man) do ri mi fa so LA ti