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Plato and the Problem of the Rule of Philosophers : Political Thought of Plato's Laws

Publication |
2021

Abstract

A comprehensive and in many ways new interpretation of Plato's largest work conceieved as the most important document of his political thought. The dialogue is basically in line with Plato's Republic and the Statesman, as it attributes a central political role to the philosophical ruler.

In contrast to these more well-known works of Plato, however, it contains a clearer formulation of the philosopher's relationship to the constitution and laws of the city, the empirical conditions of politics, and also to his fellow citizens. It became not only a model of historical law codes of Plato's time, but also a starting point of the tradition of the best constitution proposals from antiquity to modern times.