Hammarabi's Code (1)

I think Hammarabi's Code is so important because it enforces the idea of equality. It implements the idea of having equal laws, regardless of class. These code of laws would also make everyone equal because they were laws from G-d, therefore they were above everyone else making those below G-d all on the same wavelength. In Hammurabi's code, there were three separate sets of laws for the three classes, and each set was manipulated and created in a way that fit the class. Today we are equal, I think, because we all have the same laws placed on us by the government. Whether we execute or abide by those laws, and no matter what social class and economic class we belong to, we still have the same laws. A homeless person and I are equal because we live by the same rules, even if we were raised with different opportunities, which has little to do with the government's laws. That is society now, however society just 100 years ago and even more recent than that, was not equal. Blacks and whites were not equal because they did not have the same laws and the government did not "place people on an even plain" like Hammarabi's code was doing. One social value that the Ancient Babylonians under Hammarabis code possessed was that of an efficient government with comprehendible and fair rules. In this reading was explained that the reason for establishing laws was to avoid disputes and basically protests against individuals or against rules. Moreover, that having a set of laws that were not fluid but rather stable would prevent disputes and prevent people trying to change them, and make sure that everyone understands the unshift-able laws. I would disagree with that though because even if we have laws decided by a strong government, not everyone will agree with them and people will still protest against those laws and want to see change in the rules they are forced to follow. Just by having those laws set and stone, does not mean people won't dispute, it could even cause more dispute even if it was a democracy. Various laws and numerous definitions of what is "just" have changed with changing societies and communities, and will hopefully continue to change in order to fit the time period.