Does Cicero’s Decision Stand the Test of Time? Famine at Rhodes and Comparative Law and Economics Approach

Margot Callewaert, Mitja Kovac

Abstract


The question of the circumstances under which an individual has a duty to disclose valuable information
unknown to the person with whom she bargains represents one of the most puzzling and extensively debated
legal issues. Does the party have the right to remain silent and profit from her secret knowledge? These
questions have fascinated scholars in philosophy, law and history from ancient times and have produced an
impressive amount of literature, decisions and comments. Most recently, it has also gained extensive attention
in many prominent laws and among economics scholars. In addition, the pre-contractual duty to disclose
information is, among many comparative legal scholars, widely used as an illustration of the current deep,
sharp common/civil law division. This paper overcomes an old legal and moral crux and critically examines
the disclosure duties of ancient Roman law and in particularly the famous Cicero decision on the famine at
Rhodes.

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Comparative Law Review is registered at the Courthouse of Monza (Italy) - Nr. 1988 - May, 10th 2010.
Editors - Prof. Giovanni Marini, Prof. Pier Giuseppe Monateri, Prof. Tommaso Edoardo Frosini, Prof. Salvatore Sica, Prof. Alessandro Somma, Prof. Giuseppe Franco Ferrari, Prof. Massimiliano Granieri.

Direttore responsabile:Alessandro Somma