»Wenn das Gesetz nicht gesagt hätte, ...« Röm 7,7b und antike Äußerungen zu paradoxen Wirkungen von Gesetzen

In Rom 7:7b, Paul claims that the law gives sin the opportunity to lead humans into the miserable state of akrasia (weakness of will). He draws on an argument from ancient moral philosophy: Prohibitions can have paradoxical effects. They make people think about the prohibited crime and thus have the potential to make them commit this crime.