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A chi è rivolto
This book suits readers who love politics and the question of how a good society is built, and anyone curious about Plato's ideas on education, justice, and religion.
Che cos’è questo libro
Three old men walk a hot road on Crete, from the city of Cnosus toward the cave of Zeus. One is a Cretan named Cleinias, one is a Spartan named Megillus, and one is an Athenian Stranger who is never named. The Athenian asks a simple question. Did a god or a man make your laws?
Laws is a dialogue in twelve books, written late in Plato's life. Here he plans a real colony that Crete is about to found, and the Athenian gives the reason behind each rule. You get the plan in order, from a city of 5040 households to a ban on private gold.
In questo riassunto
- 1Laws should aim at all virtue, not warFree
- 2Mastering yourself comes before mastering anyone else
- 3Festivals and music train feelings before reason arrives
- 4Absolute power fails, so a lasting state mixes and limits it
- 5Rulers serve the law, and laws should explain themselves
- 6Equal homes and limited wealth keep a city united
- 7Offices, courts and marriage spread power and responsibility
- 8Children are shaped early through play, habit and shared songs
- 9Punishment should heal the soul and guard the common good
- 10Lasting laws need belief in the gods and a watching council
Punto chiave 1 di 10
Laws should aim at all virtue, not war
The book opens with a challenge to Crete and Sparta. Cleinias explains that Cretan customs, such as shared meals and gymnasia, exist for war. In his view every city is secretly at war with every other, so a good lawgiver arranges everything to win. The Athenian disagrees. A lawgiver who looks only to war aims at the lowest part of goodness.
He ranks the goods. Wisdom leads, then temperance, then justice, and courage comes fourth. Health, beauty, strength, and wealth follow far behind. Tyrtaeus praises the brave soldier in foreign war. Theognis praises the man who stays loyal when his own city splits into factions. The second man needs every virtue, while a hired soldier may stand his ground and still be foolish.
So peace is the goal, and war only serves it. For you, the point becomes a test for any rule or habit. Ask what kind of person it makes. A law is good when it makes people good in every part of their character.
That’s 1 of 10 key points.
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About this edition
Every format is free to start, and print and large print are at cost.
- LengthAbout 211,100 words
- Reading timeAbout 14 h 45 min
Questions about Leggi
What is Plato's Laws about?
It is a conversation among an Athenian, a Cretan, and a Spartan who design the laws for a new colony on Crete. They discuss virtue, education, property, government, crime, and religion, and they explain the reasoning behind each rule.
Who are the speakers in Laws?
They are an unnamed Athenian Stranger, Cleinias of Cnosus, and Megillus of Sparta. The Athenian leads the argument, Cleinias is charged with founding the colony, and Megillus asks questions and speaks for Spartan customs.
How is Laws different from the Republic?
The Republic describes an ideal city of rulers who are philosophers. Laws plans a more practical second-best city, with fixed laws, property for each family, and checks on every official, written for a colony that could really be founded.
What does the number 5040 mean in Laws?
It is the number of citizen households in the planned city. The Athenian chooses it because it divides evenly in many ways, which helps with tribes, taxes, defense, and the equal sharing of land and duties.
What is the main message of Laws?
Laws should make citizens good in every part of virtue, not only brave. Power should be limited, laws should explain themselves, and education should shape feelings early so that people willingly follow what is right.
Cite this edition
Plato. Laws. Library of Alexandria, 2026, libraryofalexandria.com/products/laws.
Plato. (2026). Laws. Library of Alexandria. https://libraryofalexandria.com/products/laws (Original work published ca. 350 B.C.E.)
Plato. Laws. Library of Alexandria, 2026. https://libraryofalexandria.com/products/laws.
@book{plato2026laws,
author = {Plato},
title = {Laws},
publisher = {Library of Alexandria},
year = {2026},
url = {https://libraryofalexandria.com/products/laws},
note = {First published ca. 350 BCE}
}
Free for 3 months
Get the full summary of Leggi, free
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