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Philosophy

Plato's Second Republic: An Essay on the Laws

An argument for why Plato鈥檚 Laws can be considered his most important political dialogue

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Published:
Nov 29, 2022
Copyright:
2022
Illus:
3 tables.
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In Plato’s Second Republic, Andr茅 Laks argues that the Laws, Plato鈥檚 last and longest dialogue, is also his most important political work, surpassing the Republic in historical relevance. Laks offers a thorough reappraisal of this less renowned text, and examines how it provides a critical foundation for the principles of lawmaking. In doing so, he makes clear the tremendous impact the Laws had not only on political philosophy, but also on modern political history.

Laks shows how the four central ideas in the Laws鈥攖he corruptibility of unchecked power, the rule of law, a 鈥渕iddle鈥� constitution, and the political necessity of legislative preambles鈥攁re articulated within an intricate and masterful literary architecture. He reveals how the work develops a theological conception of law anchored in political ideas about a god, divine reason, that is the measure of political order. Laks鈥檚 reading opens a complex analysis of the relationships between rulers and citizens; their roles in a political system; the power of reason and persuasion, as opposed to force, in commanding obedience; and the place of freedom.

Plato’s Second Republic presents a sophisticated reevaluation of a philosophical work that has exerted an enormous if often hidden influence even into the present day.