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The Laws

By Plato
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( 2,940 ratings, 114 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Laws by Plato is a foundational text in Western philosophy. It presents a dialogue on political and social governance, exploring the creation of laws and the organization of a state to achieve the good life. Through conversations between three aged men, it examines the balance between freedom and law, the role of education, and the importance of virtue and justice in crafting a just society.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you have an interest in classical philosophy and political theory. It offers a profound exploration of legal frameworks and governance, delving into the nature of laws and their role in shaping society. This text is ideal for readers fascinated by ancient philosophical discourse and its influence on modern-day legal systems.

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In the Laws, Plato describes in fascinating detail a comprehensive system of legislation in a small agricultural utopia he named Magnesia.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Plato's example of utopia

In The Laws, Plato describes in fascinating detail a comprehensive system of legislation in a small agricultural utopia he named Magnesia. His laws not only govern crime and punishment, but also form a code of conduct for all aspects of life in his ideal state - from education, sport, and religion to sexual behaviour, marriage, and drinking parties.

Plato sets out a plan for the day-to-day rule of Magnesia, administered by citizens and elected officials, with supreme power held by a Council. Although Plato's views that citizens should act in complete obedience to the law have been read as totalitarian, The Laws nonetheless constitutes a highly impressive programme for the reform of society and provides a crucial insight into the mind of one of Classical Greece's foremost thinkers.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780140449846

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 27 January 2005

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Translated by Trevor Saunders

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 26.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 407g

Pages: 592

About the Author

Plato (c.427-347 BC) was one of the shapers of the whole intellectual tradition of the West. He was disgusted by the corruption of Athenian political life, and the execution of his teacher Socrates. He sought cures for the ills of society in philosophy, and became convinced that those ills would not cease until philosophers became rulers, or rulers philosophers. Trevor J. Saunders has translated many volumes of Plato for the Penguin Classics.

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