“Laws too gentle are seldom obeyed; too severe seldom executed.” Benjamin Franklin. Hammurabi is an old king of Babylonia. He wrote 282 laws, called Hammurabi’s Code. The laws were carved into a Stele. He reigned from 1792 to 1750 B.C. Was Hammurabi’s laws fair? There are three areas of law where Hammurabi’s Code can be shown to be just. These are family, property, and personal injury laws. Examples of justice can first be found in the area of family laws. The first just law is “If a married lady is caught with another man, they shall bind them and cast them into the water.” (Law 129) This means if you are a married lady, and caught with another man, they will drown you. This is fair because it is meant to scare the lady. Also, she gets what she deserves.
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For example, “If a man opened his trench for irrigation and the waters have flooded his field, the man must restore the crop he has caused to be lost.” (Law 21) This means if a man flooded his neighbor's field, so the man must restore it. In my opinion, I think this is fair because it would be rude to flood someone's crops and not restore it. Lastly, “If a man has broken through the wall to rob a house, they shall put him to death and pierce him, or hang him in the whole in the wall which he has made.” So this means if a man has robbed you they shall put him to death. This is fair to me because it is meant to scare you, also the man gets what he deserves because you should never rob a house in the first place Examples of justice can be found in the area of personal law. First, “If a man has knocked out the eye of a freeman, his eye shall be knocked out.” (Law 196) This means eye for an eye. This is fair because the other person gets what he deserves. Secondly, “If he has knocked out the eye of a slave… he shall pay half his value.” (Law 199) This means he would have to pay half his slave. This is fair because the slave gets something
For example, “If a man opened his trench for irrigation and the waters have flooded his field, the man must restore the crop he has caused to be lost.” (Law 21) This means if a man flooded his neighbor's field, so the man must restore it. In my opinion, I think this is fair because it would be rude to flood someone's crops and not restore it. Lastly, “If a man has broken through the wall to rob a house, they shall put him to death and pierce him, or hang him in the whole in the wall which he has made.” So this means if a man has robbed you they shall put him to death. This is fair to me because it is meant to scare you, also the man gets what he deserves because you should never rob a house in the first place Examples of justice can be found in the area of personal law. First, “If a man has knocked out the eye of a freeman, his eye shall be knocked out.” (Law 196) This means eye for an eye. This is fair because the other person gets what he deserves. Secondly, “If he has knocked out the eye of a slave… he shall pay half his value.” (Law 199) This means he would have to pay half his slave. This is fair because the slave gets something