Kitap 1
2.44
But force, the negation of law, what is that, Pericles? Is it not the action of the stronger when he constrains the weaker to do whatever he chooses, not by persuasion, but by force?That is my opinion. Then whatever a despot by enactment constrains the citizens to do without persuasion, is the negation of law?I think so: and I withdraw my answer that whatever a despot enacts without persuasion is a law.
2.45
And when the minority passes enactments, not by persuading the majority, but through using its power, are we to call that force or not? Everything, I think, that men constrain others to do without persuasion, whether by enactment or not, is not law, but force. It follows then, that whatever the assembled majority, through using its power over the owners of property, enacts without persuasion is not law, but force?
2.46
Alcibiades, said Pericles, at your age, I may tell you, we, too, were very clever at this sort of thing. For the puzzles we thought about and exercised our wits on were just such as you seem to think about now.Ah, Pericles, cried Alcibiades, if only I had known you intimately when you were at your cleverest in these things!
2.47
So soon, then, as they presumed themselves to be the superiors of the politicians, they no longer came near Socrates. For apart from their general want of sympathy with him, they resented being cross-examined about their errors when they came. Politics had brought them to Socrates, and for politics they left him.
