Final answer:
Hammurabi's Code set forth a standard set of rules and made the law transparent, thus preventing the arbitrary imposition of a ruler's will. The principle of proportionate punishment limited a ruler's ability to enforce severe penalties whimsically, and although not collectively decided upon by the people, it was a step toward the 'Rule of Law'.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hammurabi's Code served as an early example of a codified legal framework that was designed to create a standard set of rules and punishments applicable to all within Hammurabi's empire. By having these laws inscribed on stone pillars and displayed throughout the empire, Hammurabi ensured that both the governed and those in positions of governance were aware of the laws and the consequences of breaking them. This level of transparency and standardization in law helped prevent the arbitrary imposition of a ruler's will on the people because it established clear expectations for behavior and articulated consistent consequences for transgressions that applied regardless of a ruler's personal preferences or vendettas.
Moreover, the idea that punishment should fit the crime—articulated in the Code's principle 'an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth'—meant that penalties were predetermined, further constraining a ruler's ability to impose severe punishments at a whim. However, the Code did differentiate between social classes, specifying that certain actions had different consequences depending on the perpetrator's and the victim's social status, likely reflecting the existing social hierarchy and power dynamics of the time.
The implementation of Hammurabi's Code can also be seen as a precursor to the 'Rule of Law,' which posits that laws, not rulers, govern a state. Although Hammurabi's laws were not decided upon collectively by the people, they were a step toward establishing a system in which everyone knew the laws and the legal system was not subject to the unpredictable will of individual rulers. This move toward consistent and transparent legal standards is a fundamental aspect of the rule of law and creates a framework that limits the potential for a single ruler to govern solely based on personal judgment or desire.