Resumen

MAGOJA, Eduardo Esteban. To obey the laws? utilitarianism, forensic rhetoric and authority in Plato's Crito (50a6-50b5). Tópicos (México) [online]. 2017, n.53, pp.411-434. ISSN 0188-6649.

In Plato's Crito an interesting utilitarian argument is used in order to justify the political obligation of the citizens. The argument holds that the violation of laws leads to the destruction of any legal system and carries harmful results for the community members (50a6-50c). In this paper, we shall make a critical analysis of the argument under the postulates of three utilitarian versions: act utilitarianism, utilitarian generalization and rule utilitarianism. We will see how this kind of argumentation has some drawbacks when it comes to justify the obedience to law. Once we have done this study we will offer another complementary interpretation about the meaning of the passage in which its forensic rhetorical side and the idea of the authority of law will be highlighted.

Palabras llave : utilitarianism; Crito; obedience; law.

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