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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from The Memorabilia by Xenophon: do, and what it is right to abstain from doing.
Alc. Enact on the hypothesis that it is right to do what is good? or
to do what is bad?
Per. What is good, to be sure, young sir, not what is bad.
Alc. Supposing it is not the majority, but, as in the case of an
oligarchy, the minority, who meet and enact the rules of conduct, what
are these?
Per. Whatever the ruling power of the state after deliberation enacts
as our duty to do, goes by the name of laws.
Alc. Then if a tyrant, holding the chief power in the state, enacts
rules of conduct for the citizens, are these enactments law?
The Memorabilia |
