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The Use Of Executive Discretionession In SophoclesAntigone

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Introduction Law, in different aspects, has been governing civilizations for millennia. From divine law to the black letter law presented in our current legal system, obedience to a form of law has always been a contentious issue. Referencing Sophocles Antigone, the exercising of executive discretion from from a natural law theorist perspective shall be discussed. Antigone primarily presents an unfettered executive discretion possessed by Creon, presented by Antigone stating ‘since apparently the laws of the god mean nothing to you’. However, natural law as a deity is undoubtedly manifests itself in the conclusion of the tragedy, with Creon declaring ‘The laws of the gods are mighty, and a man must serve them. To the last day of his life!’. Is this detrition of Creon’s apparent executive discretion a representation of the consequences of repudiating Finnis’ seven forms of basic goods, and nine methodological requirements of practical reasonableness? Finnis’ himself stated himself the universality of those basic value judgments that are manifested not only in various moral requirements and restrictions but also in the many forms of human culture, institutions, and initiative. Furthermore, it may be apparent the themes apparent in Antigone, presented through Finnis’ theoretical approach to natural law, existent in the present Australian executive discretion. By the use of Sophocles ‘Antigone’, Finnis’ ‘Natural Law and Natural Rights’ and further natural law theorists,

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