ARTISTIC INTERPRETATION OF THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN NATURAL AND POSITIVE LAW IN SOPHOCLES’ TRAGEDY “ANTIGONE”
Keywords:
Sophocles, “Antigone,” natural law, positive law, philosophy of law, law and morality, justice, the rule of lawAbstract
This article examines the artistic and philosophical interpretation of the conflict between natural and positive law in Sophocles’ tragedy “Antigone.” Through the example of the confrontation between Antigone and Creon, the work analyzes issues of inherent human rights, moral duty, justice, state power, and compliance with the law. Antigone’s rejection of state authority, preferring divine and “unwritten laws,” is interpreted as an artistic expression of the ideas of natural law. Creon’s absolutization of the law established by state power is considered as an approach related to the priority of positive law. The article substantiates that “Antigone” is not only an ancient Greek tragedy but also an important artistic and legal source for the philosophy of law and the field of “Law and Literature.” The significance of the work from the point of view of modern legal thinking, the rule of law, human rights and civic position is also revealed.
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