Laws »

Plato (c. 427—347 bce) was one of the shapers of the entire intellectual tradition of the West and sought cures for the ills of society in philosophy.
Trevor J. Saunders has translated many volumes of Plato for the Penguin Classics. Richard Stalley is professor of ancient philosophy at the University of Glasgow.

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, sports, and religion to sexual behavior, 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 program for the reform of society and provides a crucial insight into the mind of one of classical Greece's foremost thinkers.