The LawsIn 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. |
Contents
2 DRINKING PARTIES AS AN EDUCATIONAL DEVICE | |
3 THE ARTS IN THE SERVICE OF EDUCATION | |
LEGISLATION AND | |
The Persian Monarchy | |
6 MAGNESIA AND ITS PEOPLE BK IV | |
Platos Life and Work | |
Other Officials Priests | |
11 MARRIAGE AND RELATED TOPICS | |
Changing the Laws | |
24 FAMILY | |
25 MISCELLANEOUS LEGISLATION | |
Further Rules of Legal Procedure | |
the New Utopia | |
THE LAWS | |
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Common terms and phrases
absolutely agree anger appropriate argument ATHENIAN Athenian democracy Athens authority better body certainly character charge choruses citizens City-Wardens correct courage course court Cretan Crete crime Cronus dancing Delphi deserves Dionysus discussion disgrace drachmas drinking parties duty election entire Epimenides fact fear festival of Dionysus follow foreigners friends give gods Greek Guardians gymnastic hand Hestia honour individual injustice involuntary judgement judges justice keep kind lawgiver legal code legislator let’s live look lyre Magnesia marriage mean moral murder nature never officials particular Peloponnese penalty perform Persians person Plato pleasure and pain political system precisely produce proper property-class punishment reason regulations rhythm rules self-control singing slave Socrates someone songs sort soul Spartan suppose surely tell temples things topic true Tyrtaeus virtue we’ve whole women young Zeus