H. Szilágyi István – Fekete Balázs (szerk.): Iustitia modellt áll

Abstract

This review presents the volume "Iustitia modellt áll" (Justice Stands as a Model) edited by H. Szilágyi István and Fekete Balázs, which explores the interdisciplinary research area of "law and literature" in Hungary. In the introduction, the editors state that law is part of culture in its broadest sense and is thus connected to literature. The book's themes are divided into chapters on law and Hungarian literature, law and world literature, and law and visual arts, and it is recommended for theoretical and practicing lawyers, law students, and even laypersons. The reviewer seeks to answer how "law and literature" research can contribute to legal culture and the professional self-understanding of jurists. The first study (Ferenc Horkay Hörcher: Law and Literature in the Christian-Humanist Ideal of Education) formulates the starting point that law and literature do not completely separate as long as the ideological background draws from ancient roots. It emphasizes the elite nature of legal education and the importance of the ancient heritage of classical education for self-cultivation. Attila Horváth's analysis of the legal cases in János Arany's ballads demonstrates Arany's versatility and his value as a historical legal source. Ferenc Zombor examines Imre Madách's works "The Tragedy of Man" and "The Civilizer" from a legal philosophical perspective, raising fundamental questions about the concept of just law and social order. Márton Falusi's essay delves into questions of good governance and good democracy, following József Eötvös's work "The Village Notary". The review concludes that although the book may appear to be a collection of lectures, its aim is to "reclaim" the classical understanding of law, highlighting that both literary and legal texts are worth exploring.