The Laws of Plato: Edited with an Introduction, Notes Etc. - Volume II: Books VII-XII

by Plato, Edwin Bourdieu England (Editor)

One of the most widely studied texts of ancient philosophy and politics, Plato's Laws is his last and most substantial dialogue, debating crucial questions on the subject of law-giving and education. This two-volume edition of 1921 was prepared by the classicist Edwin Bourdieu England (1847 1936), who describes the dialogue as 'the treasury of pregnant truths which Plato in extreme old age left as his last legacy to humanity'. Generally held to have been written after Plato's failed attempt to influence Syracusan politics, it concerns the just city and its constitution, including discussions of divine revelation, the role of intelligence in the creation of laws, and natural law itself. This edition comprises a short introduction, England's helpful analyses, the Greek text of the dialogue, and extensive notes. Volume 2 is devoted to Books 7 12. It also includes indexes of subjects and Greek words.

Genres: Philosophy, Politics

680 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1926

About the author

Plato (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."

Reviews

[Paideia Sofista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hace más de dos décadas que soñé con algún día leer todos los diálogos de Platón, excepto la República y las Leyes, me decía yo, pues me las imaginaba como un par de mamotretos áridos e insufribles.

Ninguno resultó serlo. Por el contrario, se percibe una pluma más experimentada, capaz de sostener esa peculiar mezcla de narración/argumentación que son los diálogos platónicos por mucho más tiempo. Literalmente, conversaciones de largo aliento, que aunque francamente resultan menos estimulantes filosóficamente hablando, se siguen con la naturalidad y el placer de una plática amena.

Mi prejuicio era que se trataría de una suerte de código legal, pero no. Se trata más bien de la construcción reflexiva de dicho código. Una especie de 'hágalo usted mismo' de la actividad legislativa, pero que integra análisis así como reflexiones filosóficas, sociológicas, teológicas, antropológicas, legales y más.

[Santiago González · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bastante más pesado salvo el libro 10 que habla de teología y algunas cosas perdidas entre legislación

[Floris · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the necessary help or Mindy Mendell of All about Platonism, because all this human-state metaphor requires a lot or interpretating

[Yann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snif! Mon dernier Platon... Ces derniers livres développent en détail les lois que les trois amis (surtout l'Athénien) imaginent pour la cité des Magnètes. Heureusement qu'ils prévoient qu'elles devront être améliorées avec le temps, car sinon, leur rigueur les auraient rendues bien vite odieuse. Il n'est pas bon être un agitateur ou un esprit fort dans cette cité imaginaire, où Platon dépose tous les pouvoirs de force et de persuasion entre les mains d'une élite formée par la philosophie mais conservatrice. C'est l'image de la société millénaire égyptienne qui a tellement frappé notre célèbre philosophe, et le contraste qu'elle offrait avec la direction démocratique de sa cité, comparable à un bateau ivre. Les contacts avec l'étranger sont sévèrement réglementes. Si les avantages de l'idée de Platon sont clairs, ils ne font reposer les chances de changement que sur une petite partie de la population, qui ne sera peut être pas toujours la plus à même de saisir les opportunités de progrès.

[Alice Mennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh very very brilliant it made me laugh cry It is a really very special book to read. poetry really. with laughter and love and the wonderful nature and the stars and the moon it is what life is about. Of course one can enjoy reading its really very lovely to read. It brought me peace.