TO A QUESTION OF SOURCES OF LEGAL NIHILISM IN PUBLIC CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE
Article is devoted to topical issues of sources of legal nihilism in public consciousness of the Byzantine empire. The emphasis that the nihilism expresses itself negative attitude of the subject to certain ideals, values is placed. It is emphasized that there are many kinds of nihilism, and each of them has the history. Very often the nihilism appears in society as a result of disappointment in ideals which it lived a long time, such as it was in Russia at the beginning of reorganization. The question of features of the Byzantine state and legal model, of those elements which have played an important role in its development is considered. Here, first of all, can there be a speech about two phenomena: to the Roman state tradition and the Christian doctrine, - and their interaction throughout centuries-old history of Byzantium. The Roman state idea spoke about the single state and the single people - the Roman citizens. And this unity stood above, than feeling citizens of the nationality. Byzantium has quite apprehended this tradition. However, so far as concerns Church, it should be taken into account that the population of the empire constituted the state and Church the different parties of the life. In Church there could not be a political doctrine which, however, is necessary for the state. As a result Byzantium has apprehended idea of the Roman statehood, having connected it to Christianity. Weakness of Byzantium was the fact that in the empire, there was no society in the true sense of the word. The Church acted as the unique uniting force. But the Church could bear a faint resemblance only to society because its interests initially are in other sphere.