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Plato, The Laws
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.
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Plato
5,306 books8,679 followersPlato (Greek: Πλάτων), born Aristocles (c. 427 – 348 BC), was an ancient Greek philosopher of the Classical period who is considered a foundational thinker in Western philosophy and an innovator of the written dialogue and dialectic forms. He raised problems for what became all the major areas of both theoretical philosophy and practical philosophy, and was the founder of the Platonic Academy, a philosophical school in Athens where Plato taught the doctrines that would later become known as Platonism.
Plato's most famous contribution is the theory of forms (or ideas), which has been interpreted as advancing a solution to what is now known as the problem of universals. He was decisively influenced by the pre-Socratic thinkers Pythagoras, Heraclitus, and Parmenides, although much of what is known about them is derived from Plato himself.
Along with his teacher Socrates, and Aristotle, his student, Plato is a central figure in the history of philosophy. Plato's entire body of work is believed to have survived intact for over 2,400 years—unlike that of nearly all of his contemporaries. Although their popularity has fluctuated, they have consistently been read and studied through the ages. Through Neoplatonism, he also greatly influenced both Christian and Islamic philosophy. In modern times, Alfred North Whitehead famously said: "the safest general characterization of the European philosophical tradition is that it consists of a series of footnotes to Plato."
Plato's most famous contribution is the theory of forms (or ideas), which has been interpreted as advancing a solution to what is now known as the problem of universals. He was decisively influenced by the pre-Socratic thinkers Pythagoras, Heraclitus, and Parmenides, although much of what is known about them is derived from Plato himself.
Along with his teacher Socrates, and Aristotle, his student, Plato is a central figure in the history of philosophy. Plato's entire body of work is believed to have survived intact for over 2,400 years—unlike that of nearly all of his contemporaries. Although their popularity has fluctuated, they have consistently been read and studied through the ages. Through Neoplatonism, he also greatly influenced both Christian and Islamic philosophy. In modern times, Alfred North Whitehead famously said: "the safest general characterization of the European philosophical tradition is that it consists of a series of footnotes to Plato."
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May 6, 2024
Plato traces the process by which democracy tends to degenerate into chaos with deadly accuracy, both here and in the Republic. And it's such a beautiful dream, by contrast: to have a state ruled by wise philosopher-Guardians raised by a careful process of exclusive education. Here it's even easier: the ruler doesn't need to be wise himself. All you need is a dictator who will exercise restraint in the use of his power and who will defer to the advice of a very wise counsellor and law-maker (got anyone in mind for the job, Mr Plato?). That's all!!
Well, it should be sufficiently obvious that, even if you could find one such person, the difficulty of securing a regular supply of them makes Plato's ideas impossible and even ridiculous as a remotely serious or realistic system of government. It's a shame. But at least, like the Republic, the book highlights the price we in the West pay for our freedoms. Is there such a thing as too high a price?
I really like the Penguin translations of Trevor Saunders, who is - along with the many excellent British prose writers of the postwar decades - a great advert in himself for the virtues of the sort of meritocracy Plato wants. There again, as with the political system, we have over-balanced in the direction of the demotic; or more accurately, the sort of people who might get into a position where they had the opportunity to translate Plato for Penguin would be highly unlikely to be good writers - they get there for other reasons entirely. As our politics degenerates, our language degenerates also. But Saunders' versions have the beautifully harmonious structure of Renaissance polyphony, a delight to read.
Well, it should be sufficiently obvious that, even if you could find one such person, the difficulty of securing a regular supply of them makes Plato's ideas impossible and even ridiculous as a remotely serious or realistic system of government. It's a shame. But at least, like the Republic, the book highlights the price we in the West pay for our freedoms. Is there such a thing as too high a price?
I really like the Penguin translations of Trevor Saunders, who is - along with the many excellent British prose writers of the postwar decades - a great advert in himself for the virtues of the sort of meritocracy Plato wants. There again, as with the political system, we have over-balanced in the direction of the demotic; or more accurately, the sort of people who might get into a position where they had the opportunity to translate Plato for Penguin would be highly unlikely to be good writers - they get there for other reasons entirely. As our politics degenerates, our language degenerates also. But Saunders' versions have the beautifully harmonious structure of Renaissance polyphony, a delight to read.
Displaying 1 of 1 review