"Νόμῳ πείθου" and the Challenge of Unjust Laws
Combating Injustice and Fascism through Plato.
The Delphic maxim Νόμῳ πείθου, “Obey the law,” reflects a foundational principle of societal order in ancient Greek thought. It underscores the importance of laws (nomoi) as the framework within which societies function and thrive. However, this instruction raises a pressing question: how should one respond to unjust or oppressive laws? Moreover, how do we confront fascism, a political ideology that perverts the concept of law to enforce authoritarian rule?
Plato viewed laws as essential tools for cultivating virtue and sustaining societal order. In Laws, the Athenian Stranger emphasizes the role of nomos not merely as a set of rules but as the embodiment of shared customs, traditions, and ethical values that guide a community. For Plato, laws are a form of authority grounded in reverence, which instills respect for societal norms and leaders while recognizing human limitations. This reverence ensures that citizens see laws as instruments for achieving a higher ethical order rather than mere instruments of control.
In Plato’s Reverent City: The Laws and the Politics of Authority, Ballingall notes that laws are “rigid, inequitable rules” that cannot fully accommodate the complexities of human circumstances. They are, by necessity, generalizations that impose order but often fail to capture the nuances of justice. This inherent limitation creates space for unjust laws, which may contradict the principles of fairness, equity, or the common good.
The maxim to obey laws does not demand blind obedience. Instead, we must accept human fallibility and correct injustice through reform. We must respect the law as an imperfect but necessary tool for societal cohesion. However, it also compels critical reflection when laws deviate from their intended purpose of promoting justice and virtue.
Plato advocates for a measured response to unjust laws. Rather than outright rebellion, which could destabilize society, he emphasizes reform and persuasion. The Athenian Stranger in Laws introduces the concept of “preludes,” explanatory discourses accompanying laws. These preludes aim to educate citizens, encouraging voluntary compliance by appealing to reason and higher principles. In the context of unjust laws, this approach suggests that resistance should be rooted in dialogue, education, and reform, striving to align laws more closely with justice.
These concepts are vital for us to examine and reflect upon more than ever, with fascism and other oppressive ideologies on the rise. Fascism represents a profound distortion of the reverence Plato associates with laws and authority. While Plato viewed authority as a means of guiding citizens toward virtue and harmony, fascism exploits authority to impose domination, suppress dissent, and enforce conformity. It manipulates the concept of reverence, replacing awe for the divine or the virtuous with fear of the state and its leaders.
Ballingall emphasizes the dangers of such perversions, noting that tyrannical regimes isolate themselves through arrogance and overconfidence, suppressing critical voices and undermining the humility that genuine reverence demands. Fascism, in its glorification of the state and its leaders, erodes the ethical and spiritual dimensions of law, reducing it to a tool of coercion rather than a guide to justice.
To fight fascism and unjust laws, a Platonic framework offers practical and philosophical strategies rooted in critical reflection, reverence, solidarity, and philosophical leadership. Plato emphasizes the need for critical reflection and reform, advocating for the education of citizens and leaders to recognize and address flaws in existing laws. This method fosters gradual change, avoiding the chaos of outright rebellion while working toward a more just legal framework. Central to this effort is reverence for higher principles, which Ballingall describes as humility and acknowledgment of ethical and spiritual truths. True reverence serves as a moral compass, guiding individuals to resist laws and regimes that betray these values and aligning society with the ideals of justice and virtue.
In addition, community and solidarity play a vital role in resisting the divisive and fear-based tactics of fascism. Plato’s vision of a cohesive community united by shared ethical and spiritual values provides a powerful antidote to authoritarianism. Building solidarity around principles of justice and mutual respect strengthens collective resistance, creating a foundation for meaningful social change. Philosophical leadership is equally critical in this struggle. Philosophers, as Ballingall argues, have a unique role in exposing the limitations of unjust authority, challenging the ideological underpinnings of fascism, and offering alternative visions rooted in truth, virtue, and justice. Together, these strategies form a comprehensive approach to resisting the corruption of fascism and unjust laws, safeguarding that society remains aligned with the higher ideals of justice and human dignity.
With all this in mind, we in the United States must keep our ideals alive. Ideals such as democracy, individual rights, equality, and justice should be our guiding principles for standing against and fighting fascism. Fascism seeks to demoralize us into accepting its dominance, but we must persist in advocating for the common good.