Laws

A sharp contrast to the Utopian nature of The Republic, Laws sets out in practical form the structure of actual society, and how, realistically, humanity can expect to govern itself. The last of the ¿dialogues¿ by the Greek philosopher and mathematician PLATO (c. 428 B.C.¿c. 347 B.C.), this meditation on the nature of culture contains much that sounds outmoded to modern ears¿such as discussions on slavery and the proper place of women¿yet it remains an insightful examination of questions that continue to trouble us today, such as: ¿ the importance of education ¿ the nature of beauty ¿ the value of artistic endeavors ¿ how to implement matters of justice ¿ the principles of government ¿ the dangers presented by religion ¿ what constitutes a crime ¿ and much more. A foundational work of both Western philosophy and classical literature, in a highly readable 1871 translation by Benjamin Jowett, this is essential reading for students, thinkers, and anyone who wishes to be considered well educated.