Part 8/15:
To understand these societal dynamics, one must look back to classical philosophy and biblical teachings. The ancient Greeks, notably in the tragedies of Aeschylus, depicted blood guilt and the destructive cycle of revenge. Their innovations—justice as impersonal law and the replacement of personal retribution with state authority—are essential to understanding the modern rule of law.
The plays of Aeschylus, especially Orestes, highlight how cycles of bloodshed and retribution threaten societal stability. Laws rooted in divine justice gradually replace personal vendettas, but this transition always bears the cost of human fallibility, reminder that justice involves human personalities—judges, jurors, leaders—who bring their passions into their decisions.