Hammurabi’s code: was it just Essay

Hammurabi, the king of the small city-state of Babylon, ruled for 42 years making 282 laws being create verbally in cuneiform. Together, these 282 laws carved onto a large stone, make up what has come to be known as Hammurabis work out. Hammurabis code was not just because some of the laws were not only greatly magnify towards those accused of criminal offences, scarce also the consequences of the suggested crimes were un join and cruel when viewed with the 21st century perspective. Hammurabis code is known to stir been inscribed into stone in cuneiform.Because laws were most literally written in stone, the laws could neer be altered or changed to suit situations or new times better. This is seen as unfair in the 21st century perspective because, for example, the United States constitution can be added onto and laws, or amendments, can and have been, repealed while none of this couldve have been done to Hammurabis code.. (Doc A)Even though Hammurabis intentions seem to be goo d by making the intention of the codes to protect the weak from the strong as well as the widows and the orphans, these laws come off a bit harshly (Doc B) .For instance, it is an exaggeration for a married lady to be caught in an affair with another man and to then be punished by being fastened together and being drowned (Doc C, Law 129). With the values that the people in the 21st century have, this punishment would be perceived as immoral. Rather than being sentenced to death by suffocation, fornication can be understand through discussion and forgiveness or by divorce.Another example of these harsh codes would be the tautological of cruelty for a countersigns hand to be cut off for striking his father (Doc C, Law 195). In both 21st century and 4,000 years ago, the sons action is seen as wrong and disrespectful, but the amputation of a sons hand is simply unethical. A more proper castigation would be to correct your son through p arntal discipline, or disowning him, or if he is of age, to bring him forth to court.An additional refer to an inhumane punishment would be the death, or hanging, of a robber in the same hole in which he made to break an entering into a home (Doc D, Law 21). An alternative correction to this crime wouldbe for the intruder to be tried in court, and if found guilty of charge, to be sentenced to a fair amount of years for his crime in jail.Although, through the perspective of the 21st century, most of these laws seem unethical, through the perspective of Hammurabi 4,000 years ago, some can be seen as fair or even balance given to the hard realities civilization faced in ancient times.Even if these laws were moral 4,000 years ago, they are not ethical or viewed as just today because the consequences of the crimes are exaggerated and cruel. To be fitted to further prove that these codes were foul, a journal of those who were appointed guilty and punished would be great confirmation of how unfair these castigations were.