Platos laws edited by christopher bobonich november 2010. Second, and second in point of gravity, come offences against sacred objects and tombs that are private. His brief is to establish that there exist gods who govern human affairs, and to this end the gods he decides to talk about are the souls that move the celestial bodies. Glaucon, eager to hear socrates demonstrate that justice is worthy of pursuit as both an end and as a means to an end, offers to play devils advocate and oppose his. Whereas in other dialogs plato would challenge and agree with his dialogpartner on a certain subject, here he the athenian stranger does not shy away from stating what should be. And now having spoken of assaults, let us sum up all acts of violence under a single law. Purchase a copy of this text not necessarily the same edition from. Written in the hope that it may shed some light on what is a poorly recognised yet important piece of ancient greek philosophical work. It is generally agreed that plato wrote this dialogue as an older man, having failed in his effort in syracuse on the island of sicily to guide a tyrants rule, instead having been thrown in prison. The final and longest dialogue plato wrote in his life, this work is set on the island of crete, where three old men are journeying to the cave of zeus in imitation of minos, the ancient cretan lawmaker. The conversation depicted in the works twelve books begins with the question of who is given the credit for establishing a civilizations laws. The laws the laws is platos last, longest, and, perhaps, most loathed work.
Robert mayhew presents a new translation, with commentary, of book x of the laws. Thrasymachus, polymarchus, and the others having gone on to enjoy the festival, socrates, glaucon, and adeimantus are left alone to continue the debate on justice. Get a detailed summary and analysis of every chapter in the book from. Laws by plato, part of the internet classics archive. Having sorted out the classes in the soul, socrates now states that imitation must not be allowed in the city. The laws of plato quotes by plato goodreads share book. Robert mayhew presents a new translation, with commentary, of book 10 of the laws. Translated with an introduction and commentary clarendon plato series book 10 9780199225965. The reason is that masters and freemen in states, when they hear of it, are very likely to arrive at a true conviction that without due regulation of private life in cities, stability in the laying down of laws is hardly to be expected. In this set of interpretive essays, notable scholars of the laws from the fields of classics, history, philosophy, and political science offer a collective close reading of the dialogue book by book and reflect on the work as a. Translation with commentary of platos laws book 10, which contains his most sustained discussion of the existence and nature of the gods. Res publica is a socratic dialogue, authored by plato around 375 bc, concerning justice.
Artists products are only imitations of reality, twice removed from the true characteristic of the world of forms. The great prelude to the laws in general ends in the latter part of book 5, after which the athenian proceeds to sketch, often. Book 10 of the laws contains platos fullest defence of the existence of the gods, and his last word on their nature, as well as a presentation. Athenian next after cases of outrage we shall state for cases of violence one universally inclusive principle of law, to this effect. The loeb classical library edition of plato is in twelve volumes. Plato s laws is one of the most important surviving works of ancient greek political thought. The volume contains a lengthy interpretive essay, by the translator, that is so full of enthusiasm for the laws that it is more pleasant reading than the translation itself.
It is known as a socratic dialogue and is perhaps one of plato s best known works. In fact, in laws 10 plato is uninterested in establishing conclusions about the existence or character of unembodied gods let alone precosmic gods. Platos primary aim is to defend the idea that the gods exist and that they are good this latter meaning that they do not neglect human beings and cannot be swayed by prayers and sacrifices to overlook. Apology, crito, and phaedo of socrates plato 876 downloads. These men work to create a constitution for magnesia, a new cretan colony. In the first part of the sixth book, plato completes his sketch of the constitution by the appointment of officers. I942 plato s theory of law 361 necessary to examine plato s views on the relation of law and morals. This book presents the first translation of the complete text of the laws for thirtyfive years, in tom griffiths readable and reliable english. To therejectionof imitativepoetry,whichcertainlyought not to be received. Leo strauss platos laws a course offered in the autumn quarter, 1959. Book 10 examines laws concerning impiety and presents an account of theology. This article is a summary into the athenian interlocutors argument into the relevance and existence of the.
Richard giles a summary and evaluation of platos laws book 10 and its overall purpose within the laws. Many of its ideas were drawn upon by later political. Book summary the major intent of the debate in the republic is to determine an extended definition of what constitutes justice in a given state, whether or not a concept of justice may be determined by citizens in a given state at the time that plato is writing, and how justice may be accomplished in a given state how laws might be enacted that would serve the citizens of a just state in. Along the way, they ask and attempt to answer many questions concerning legislation and. No one shall carry or drive off anything which belongs to others, nor shall he use any of his neighbors goods unless he has gained the consent of the owner. Books by plato sorted by popularity project gutenberg. Socrates reemphasizes the importance of the limits placed on poetry in the city in speech. The first book of plato s republic is concerned with justice.
Although it would be cumbersome to give a description of every section of the book, here are some highlights. Sep 08, 2016 plato s laws is one of the most important surviving works of ancient greek political thought. Start your 48hour free trial to unlock this plato s republic study guide. Book 10 of the laws contains plato s fullest defence of the existence of the gods, and his last word on their nature, as well as a presentation and defence of laws against although it has been neglected compared to such works as the republic and symposium, it is beginning to receive a great deal of scholarly attention. Jun 06, 2016 plato s longest dialogueone of my shortest introductions. Platos primary aim is to defend the idea that the gods exist and that they are good this latter meaning that they do not neglect human beings and cannot be swayed by prayers and sacrifices to overlook injustice. I say that about serious matters a man should be serious, and about a matter which is not serious he should not be, serious. The republic book ii summary and analysis gradesaver. Malcolm schofield, a leading scholar of greek philosophy, introduces the main themes and characteristics of the work, as well as supplying authoritative notes on the structure and detail of plato s. Plato on utopia stanford encyclopedia of philosophy.
Notably, the constitution of the spartans by xenophon, the constitution of the athenians, wrongly attributed to xenophon, and the constitution of the athenians, possibly by aristotle or one of his students, have also survived. In his last dialogue, plato returns to the project of describing the foundation of a just city and sketches in. Despite the laws purported frigidity, 1 length, and lack of polish, new translations and works of scholarship on it continue to appear. Although it has been neglected compared to such works as the republic and symposium, it is beginning to receive a great deal of scholarly attention. Book 10 of the laws contains plato s fullest defence of the existence of the gods, and his last word on their nature, as well as a presentation and defence of laws against impiety e. Beyond laws that regulate crime and its punishments or the organization of rule, plato explores a sort of code of conduct that would encompass every aspect of life in magnesia, from education and recreation to religion. Platos laws is one of the most important surviving works of ancient greek. Earlier in the dialogue, socrates suggested that certain kinds of music and poetry should not be permitted in the curriculum of study for the future rulers of the state because some art did not seem to be morally uplifting, hence perhaps bad for children. The laws of plato translated by thomas pangle is a difficult but amply worthwhile read. With athenian and spartan law systems clearly in mind, these speakers envision a new set of laws for a utopia called magnesia.
Long understudied, plato s laws has been the object of renewed attention in the past decade and is now considered to be his major work of political philosophy besides the republic. Artists specifically poets claims to have broad knowledge about mankind are false. His brief is to establish that there exist gods who govern human affairs, and to this end the gods he decides to talk. Many of its ideas were drawn upon by later political thinkers, from aristotle and cicero to thomas more and montesquieu. Doc a summary and evaluation of platos laws book x and its. The laws comprises a conversation in 12 books, set on crete, among three interlocutors. Here plato undertakes to refute certain impious views that he believes to be obstructive to the. Despite the fact that the laws treats a number of basic issues in political and ethical philosophy as well as theology, it has suffered neglect compared with the republic.
Most of his works are written dialogues, many with socrates as the main character. Unlike other works by plato, this is less of a dialogue and more like a treatise. The annenberg cpbproject provided support for entering this text. He offers a rich, clear, and wellbalanced treatment of his complex subject, and his book is to be highly recommended as a companion to readers of the laws. Being no longer young, we may often stop to rest beneath them, and get over the. Leo strauss platos laws a course offered in the autumn quarter, 1959 the department of political science, the university of chicago. Plato starts off talking about the inadequacy of spartan and cretan legislation, in that they are geared up completely to the aim of war. On the idea that god is reason, see menn 1995 and mayhew 2010. Doc a summary and evaluation of platos laws book x and. What is justice and why should one behave justly are two questions which socrates and his interlocutors attempt to answer. In book one he writes about how oppositesex sex acts cause pleasure by nature, while samesex sexuality is unnatural 636c. He begins to prove this by saying that normally, a person would give a unique form to each group of things. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. In the laws, plato applies the idea of a fixed, natural law to sex, and takes a much harsher line than he does in the symposium or the phraedrus.
Philosophers who have true vision are best suited to guard the laws and customs of a city. The relation of the republic to the laws is clearly set forth by plato in the laws. As such, the laws is an important text for anyone interested in ancient greek religion, philosophy, and politics generally, and the later thought of plato in particular. Those who are looking for a strong take on how the positions staked out in laws 10 fit into the dense constellation of views that plato develops in his late dialogues, or even on what the implications of the theology of book 10 are for the political theory of the laws, will be less satisfied.
Richard geraghty ewtn personage and professor of philosophy presents an overview and indepth analysis of book ten of plato s republic. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of the republic and what it means. Readers of plato have often neglected the laws because of its length and density. It offers sustained reflection on the enterprise of legislation, and on its role in the social and religious regulation of society in all its aspects. Laws plato translated by benjamin jowett plato 428348 bc one of the greatest and most influential greek philosophers, he was a disciple of socrates and the teacher of aristotle. His primary aim in the translation is fidelity to the greek. Book 10 of the laws contains platos fullest defence of the existence of the gods, and his last word on their nature, as well as a presentation and defence of laws against impiety e. His laws not only govern crime and punishment, but also form a code of conduct for all aspects of life in his ideal statefrom education, sport and religion to sexual behaviour, marriage and drinking parties. The laws, plato s longest dialogue, has for centuries been recognized as the most comprehensive exposition of the practical consequences of his philosophy, a. In it, he sketches the basic political structure and laws of an ideal city named magnesia. Without pressing such arguments as absolutely certain, we must acknowledge that such a comparison affords a new ground of real weight for believing the laws to be a genuine writing of plato. Feb 07, 2008 as such, the laws is an important text for anyone interested in ancient greek religion, philosophy, and politics generally, and the later thought of plato in particular. Laws 10, which consists of a short introduction, a new translation, and a commentary on book 10 of the laws. The book is a conversation on political philosophy between three elderly men.
Describe the education of the guardians as it is presented in books 2. Plato s longest dialogueone of my shortest introductions. Plato, the great philosopher of athens, was born in 427 bce. Unfinished also is plato s last work of the twelve books of laws socrates is absent from it, a critical discussion of principles of law which plato thought the greeks might accept. In the laws, plato describes in fascinating detail a comprehensive system of legislation in a small agricultural utopia he named magnesia. He explains the manner in which guardians of the law, generals, priests, wardens of town and country, ministers of education, and other magistrates are to be appointed. The argument and the action of plato s laws is a painstakingly close and detailed commentary. The athenian proposes that the three discuss governance and laws. Plato was not the only ancient greek author writing about the law systems of his day, and making comparisons between the athenian and the spartan laws. Plato founded a school of philosophy known as the academy. Mayhews book is a welcome contribution to and an eagerly awaited innovation in plato scholarship. Full of trenchant observations and significant signposts, useful in drawing. The laws is plato s last, longest, and, perhaps, most loathed work.
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