The voice lecture regarding “equality under the law” of Article 14 of the Constitution of Japan was uploaded.
Historically speaking, the idea, equality of human beings is derived from ancient Greece. Needless to say, no modern state has been made without the establishment of the idea of equality.
Equality surely has been embodied through Declaration of Independence in July, 1776 of the United States and Declaration of Human Rights in August, 1789 of France as well.
The concept, equality under the law has been developed through many elements including the idea of Christianity which says “every human is equal in the presence of God.” Fundamentally, the principle of democracy is derived from the idea, equality in front of God. This principle has been developed and modernized as the foundation of democracy embodied by the constitutions in modern states. The Constitution of Japan shall be treated as one of those under the genealogy of such human history.
It is quite important to study and understand the “spirit of equality” in terms of reviewing various elements we human beings have been experiencing throughout the history of humankind.