Plato's Laws

Paper Summary:

This paper presents a summary and analysis of Leo Strauss's interpretation of Plato's Laws, explaining that both Strauss and Plato introduce the reader to their ideas of perfection, which is composed of a society governed by divine laws, enforced by virtuous individuals, and filled with the promise of virtue of the soul.

From the Paper:

"We may begin by asking ourselves; what is law? Certainly, this is a central question posed by Plato himself in his Laws, which Leo Strauss explores further in The Argument and the Action of Plato's Laws. It is clear that the entire reason for individuals living together in a city and establishing laws is to improve the lives of every citizen and the opportunity for happiness. Furthermore, it is apparent that man is not complete without having laws to govern him. If he chooses not to obey the laws set forth by society, he will end up as a savage or possibly cause his own demise. Strauss undertakes a mission of study to translate Plato's Laws; a work described as Plato's disillusionment with the idea of Perfection. He provides a critical view into a theory of political education within a democracy that is more a disillusion with politics than a discourse on the idea of achieving a perfect society. However, it is clear that a political education as described in this work should instill individuals with a means to self-discovery in order to find happiness of the body and soul."

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