Law, Myth, and Social Order

Abstract

This paper explores the intricate relationship between law, myth, and social order, inspired by Yuval Noah Harari’s reflections in Sapiens. Drawing on Harari’s concept of the “imagined order,” the paper examines how foundational myths have historically sustained societal cooperation—from the Code of Hammurabi to the U.S. Declaration of Independence. It revisits the transformative impact of the agricultural revolution on space and time, as well as the role of myth in legitimizing social hierarchies and legal norms. Turning to the present, the paper analyzes how accelerated social change, globalization, and “liquid modernity” (Bauman) challenge the law’s coherence and its capacity to provide stability. Contemporary law, marked by “motorized legislation” and normative overload, struggles to maintain authority in an increasingly individualistic and pluralistic world. The study questions whether current constitutions and human rights can serve as modern myths capable of generating collective adherence. It concludes by suggesting that while human rights may offer a shared imaginary rooted in both equality and diversity, it remains uncertain whether they can sustain the necessary foundations for a stable social order in the 21st century.