《Plato the laws》

Map of Central Crete15

INTRODUCTION17

Utopianism17

Plato's Life and Work18

Plato's Political Thought23

The Republic24

The Statesman ('Politicus')25

The Laws26

The Relationship between the Republicand the Laws27

Magnesia: the New Utopia28

(a) Size and Situation29

(b) Population and Occupatiions29

(c) Education30

(d) Religion30

(e) Law30

(f) Government and Administration32

Plato and Totalitarianism33

The Modern Reaction to Plato35

Composition and Structure of the Laws: Summary37

The Translation39

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS42

THE LAWS45

1. THE INADEQUACY OF SPARTAN AND CRETAN LEGISLATION45

Introductory Conversation45

The Aim of Spartan and Cretan Laws46

Courage and Pleasure56

2. DRINKING PARTIES AS AN EDUCATIONAL DEVICE63

Teetotallers Misguided63

Can Drinking Parties be Educational?69

Interlude: The Athenian Pressed for an Answer70

The Nature and Purpose of Education (1)72

The Educational Effect of Drinking Parties (1)75

3. THE ARTS IN THE SERVICE OF EDUCATION83

The Nature and Purpose of Education (2)85

How the Arts should reinforce Education86

Is Pleasure the Proper Criterion in the Arts?89

Artistic Censorship in Egypt91

Proper and Improper Pleasures92

Justice and Happiness go Together97

Children are Easily Persuaded101

The Three Choruses102

Qualifications of the Third Chorus, and an Attack on Contemporary Trends in the Arts106

The Educational Effects of Drinking Parties (2)112

Summing-up on the Uses of Drink114

4. THE LESSONS OF HISTORY (1):LEGISLATION AND THE BALANCE OF POWERS118

Life after the Flood118

Autocracy123

The Primitive City and the Origin of Legislation124

Troy125

The Dorian League127

Why did the League fail?132

Seven Titles to Authority137

The Reasons for Sparta's Success139

5. THE LESSONS OF HISTORY (2): MONARCHY AND DEMOCRACY143

Two Mother-Constitutions143

The Persian Monarchy144

Athens and the Persian Wars150

The Corruption of the Athenian Democracy152

Recapitulation155

The Proposed New Cretan Colony156

6. MAGNESIA AND ITS PEOPLE157

Natural Resources158

The New Colonists163

The Need for a Benevolent Dictator164

What Constitution is to be Imposed?169

The Age of Cronus170

Law should be Supreme172

Address to the New Colonists174

7. THE CORRECT WAY TO LEGISLATE: LAWS AND PREAMBLES178

The Legislator must Justify his Laws178

Two Categories of Doctors181

Two Categories of Laws: an Example182

Preambles Essential184

8. GENERAL PREAMBLE TO THE LEGAL CODE187

Introduction188

The Importance of Honouring the Soul189

Physical Fitness191

Wealth192

The Correct Treatment of Children192

Duties to Relatives, Friends and State193

Duties to Foreigners193

Personal Morality194

How to Handle Criminals195

Selfishness196

Extremes of Emotion to be Avoided197

Virtue and Happiness197

9. THE FOUNDATION OF THE NEW STATE201

Preliminary Analysis of the State201

The Selection of the Citizens202

Distributing the Land (1)203

The Size of the Population (1)205

Religious and Social Occasions206

States Ideal and Real: Community of Property207

Distributing the Land (2)208

The Size of the Population (2)208

Holdings arc Inalienable210

The Possession of Money211

The Four Property-Classes214

Administrative Units of the State215

Theory to be Modified by Facts216

The Pre-eminence of Mathematics217

Influences of Climate219

10. CIVIL AND LEGAL ADMINISTRATION220

Problems of Appointing the First Officials221

The Election of the Guardians of the Laws223

Duties and Tenure of the Guardians; Registration of Property226

Military Officials227

Generals227

Company-Commanders227

The Elections227

Cavalry-Commanders228

Disputed Votes228

The Election of the Council228

The Notion of Equality229

The Executive Committee of the Council230

Other Officials; Priests231

The Election of the Expounders232

Treasurers233

The Protection of the Territory233

The Rural Courts235

How the Country-Wardens are to Live236

The City-Wardens237

The Market-Wardens238

Education Officials239

The Minister of Education240

Death in Office241

Three Grades of Court242

Election of the Supreme Court243

Corrupt Verdicts243

The Court of the People244

The Tribal Courts244

Our Scheme is only a Sketch244

11. MARRIAGE AND RELATED TOPICS246

The Younger Legislators246

The Organization of Religious Festivals249

Marriage: Choosing a Partner (1)250

Changing the Laws250

The Law of Marriage251

Preamble to the Law of Marriage: Choosing a Partner (2)251

Failure to Marry253

Dowries254

The Wedding-Feast255

Correct Procreation (1)255

The Life of the Newly-Weds256

The Problem of Slavery256

The Buildings of the State259

Women must join the Communal Meals261

Three Instinctive Drives: Food, Drink, Sex263

Correct Procreation (2)266

Adultery268

Registration of Births and Deaths268

Age Limits269

12. EDUCATION270

Written and Unwritten Rules270

Education in the Womb271

The Importance of Movement: the Evidence of Corybantic Ritual273

How far should a Child be Humoured?275

Unwritten Rules: a Reminder277

Early Education278

Ambidexterity279

Physical Training (t)281

The Dangers of Innovation in Education282

Some Model Rules287

The Regulation of Music290

The Right Use of Leisure291

Attendance at School293

The Education of Females293

How to Live a Life of Leisure296

Further Duties of the Minister of Education298

The Legislator's Instructions to the Minister of Education: the Curriculum299

Literature300

A Set Text: Selections from the Laws of Plato302

Music303

Physical Training (2)304

Dancing307

Comedy and Tragedy309

Mathematics311

Astronomy315

Hunting: Written and Unwritten Rules again317

13. SPORT AND MILITARY TRAINING321

Arrangements for Festivals321

Military Training322

Obstacles to Correct Military Training325

Races328

Contests in Arms329

Horse-Racing330

Conclusion330

14. PROBLEMS OF SEXUAL CONDUCT332

The Problems Stated332

Three Kinds of Friendship334

How to Discourage Unnatural Sexual Intercourse336

The Importance of Self-Control338

Two Alternative Laws340

15. AGRICULTURE, ECONOMICS AND TRADE342

The Food Supply (1)342

Agricultural Laws343

Duties to Neighbours344

The Water Supply (1)345

The Harvest346

The Water Supply (2)347

Bringing in Crops348

Artisans349

Imports and Exports350

The Food Supply (2)350

Dwelling Houses351

The Markets352

Resident Aliens354

16. CAPITAL OFFENCES355

Preliminary Discussion355

Robbery from Temples356

Procedure in Capital Cases359

Subversion359

Treason360

17. THE THEORY OF PUNISHMENT361

Theft: Should all Thefts Attract the Same Punishment?362

Philosophical Legislation Justified362

A 'Terminological Inexactitude'365

The Attack on the Distinction between 'Volun- tary' and 'Involuntary'369

The New Distinction, and the Purpose of Punishment371

A Fuller Account of Injustice373

18. HOMICIDE LAW376

Persons Unfit to Plead376

Involuntary Homicide377

Homicide in Anger380

Voluntary Homicide385

Suicide391

Animals and Inanimate Objects as Killers391

Murder by Persons Unknown392

Justifiable Homicide392

19. WOUNDINGS394

Preliminaries394

The Courts' Discretion395

Voluntary Wounding, and a Digression on Adopting an Heir in Cases of Childlessness397

Woundings Inflicted in Anger400

Involuntary Woundings401

20. ASSAULT402

21. RELIGION408

Three Sources of Impiety410

The Case of the Opposition411

Address to the Young Heretic414

Nature and Chance versus Design415

The Difficulties of Refuting Atheists418

The Priority of Soul (1)420

Ten Kinds of Motion422

Soul Moves Itself425

The Priority of Soul (2)426

Soul Moves the Heavenly Bodies428

How Soul Moves the Heavenly Bodies430

Address to the Believer in the Indifference of the Gods432

Proof that the Gods care for Mankind433

The Justice of the Gods, and the Fate of the Soul437

Transition to the Law of Impiety442

Two Kinds of Offenders444

The Punishment for Impiety445

Private Shrines446

22. THE LAW OF PROPERTY449

Respect for Property449

Removal of Buried Treasure449

Removal of Property in General450

The Treatment of Slaves and Freedmen451

23. COMMERCIAL LAW453

The Law of Sale and Exchange453

Retail Trade456

Contracts460

Dealings with Craftsmen460

Military 'Craftsmen'461

24. FAMILY LAW463

Making a Will463

Testamentary and Inheritance Law465

How to Mitigatc the Harshness of the Law468

The Care of Orphans469

Disinheritance472

Senility473

Divorce and Remarriage474

Death of a Wife or Husband474

Children of Mixed Status475

Respect for Parents475

25. MISCELLANEOUS LEGISLATION479

Non-fatal Injuries by Drugs and Charms479

The Purpose of Punishment480

Lunacy481

Abuse482

The Censorship of Comedies483

Beggars484

Damage by Slaves484

Further Rules of Legal Procedure485

Unscrupulous Advocacy486

Offences Committed by Members of Diplomatic Missions487

Theft of Public Property488

Military Service489

Abandonment of Weapons491

The Need for Scrutineers493

The Election and Duties of the Scrutineers494

The Funeral of a Scrutineer496

Prosecutions of Serutincers497

Oaths497

Refusal to Contribute to Public Expenses499

Relations with the Outside World499

Foreign Travel500

The Observers501

Foreign Visitors503

Sureties505

Searching a House505

Time Limits for Disputing Title506

Prevention of Attendance at Court506

Prevention of Participation in Contests506

Receiving Stolen Goods507

Harbouring an Exile507

Waging Private War507

Bribes507

Taxation508

Offerings to the Gods508

The Three Grades of Court509

The Minor Points of Legal Procedure, and the Importance of Legal Studies509

The Execution of Judgement511

Funeral Regulations512

26. THE NOCTURNAL COUNCIL515

How can the State be Preserved Intact?517

Membership and Functions of the Council518

The Unity and Plurality of Virtue521

The Council's Duty to Teach523

The Higher Education of the Council524

The Importance of Theology526

Recruitment of the Council, and its Course of Studies528

Closing Remarks529

DEPARTURES FROM THE BUDE TEXT531

SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHIES533

LIST OF CRIMES539

APPENDIX: PLATO'S LETTERS545

INDEX OF NAMES549