Del filósofo-rey al imperio de la ley: Una evaluación de las aportaciones de Platón al "rule of law"

Abstract

[Resumen] La idea platónica del segundo recurso es la primera aparición del imperio de la ley. Este surge como alternativa realista al gobierno del filósofo-rey, distinguiéndose de este formalmente por el recurso a reglas generales. El objetivo de este estudio es ofrecer una propuesta de articulación de ambos ideales y comprender la concepción platónica del imperio de la ley. Se considerarán las principales diferencias con las teorías modernas del rule of law. Platón concibe el imperio de la ley como remedio frente al peligro de la tiranía. La ley que rige la polis se caracteriza por ser un pensamiento razonado asumido por la ciudadanía, impidiendo el dominio de la voluntad del tirano.

[Abstract] Plato’s idea of the second-best state is the first appearance of the rule of law. It is considered as a realistic alternative to the government of the Philosopher King, differing formally from it on the employment of general rules. The aim of this paper is to elaborate an articulation of both proposals and to better understand that of the rule of law within Plato’s thought. The main differences between it and the modern theories of the rule of law will be assessed. Plato conceives the rule of law as a remedy directed to avoid tyranny, in which the idea of generality, characteristically associated to the rule of law. The law that rules the polis is a reasoned thought accepted by the citizenship, directed to avoid the ruling of the will of the tyrant.