Book
Laws
Plato · translated by Benjamin Jowett
An Athenian, a Cretan and a Spartan, walking in Crete, discuss the laws that a new colony should be given.
The Laws is Plato's longest work, in twelve books. Three old men discuss the purpose of legislation and draw up a detailed code for a new city, covering education, property, marriage, religion, crime and government. Socrates does not appear.
This edition is the English translation by Benjamin Jowett.
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Read a passage
PERSONS OF THE DIALOGUE: An Athenian Stranger, Cleinias (a Cretan), Megillus (a Lacedaemonian).
ATHENIAN: Tell me, Strangers, is a God or some man supposed to be the author of your laws?
CLEINIAS: A God, Stranger; in very truth a God: among us Cretans he is said to have been Zeus, but in Lacedaemon, whence our friend here comes, I believe they would say that Apollo is their lawgiver: would they not, Megillus?
ATHENIAN: And do you, Cleinias, believe, as Homer tells, that every ninth year Minos went to converse with his Olympian sire, and was inspired by him to make laws for your cities?
CLEINIAS: Yes, that is our tradition; and there was Rhadamanthus, a brother of his, with whose name you are familiar; he is reputed to have been the justest of men, and we Cretans are of opinion that he earned this reputation from his righteous administration of justice when he was alive.
Contents
- 01Introduction and Analysis.
- 02Excursus on the Relation of the Laws of Plato to the Institutions of Crete and Lacedaemon and to the Laws and Constitution of Athens.
- 03Laws
- 04Book I.
- 05Book II.
- 06Book III.
- 07Book IV.
- 08Book V.
- 09Book VI.
- 10Book VII.
- 11Book VIII.
- 12Book IX.
- 13Book X.
- 14Book XI.
- 15Book XII.
About this edition
- Author
- Plato
- Translator
- Benjamin Jowett
- Era
- Ancient (to c. 500)
- Reading level
- Advanced: for close, demanding reading
- Formats
- EPUB, PDF
- Length
- 499 pages
- This edition
- Modern Philosophers