Plato's Laws And Its Influence

Plato was a best-known classical master in the western world and he took a vitally important position in the western history of philosophy, politics and science of law. He lived in the crisis period of the Greek city. Under the influence of the older generation such as Socrates, he produced scholarly works and sought for solutions to the crisis of the city. Plato was a prolific author and the Laws was the final dialogue in his life, which could best embody his ideological characteristics during his old age. The Laws was an extremely important works of science of law, in which he emphasized that the country should be ruled by law, and in the compilation of theoretical law (jurisprudence) and applied law (code), advanced a series of important principles and exerted a far-reaching influence on later Roman Law and natural law. The Laws was also a vital works of political theory, in which he devised a detailed project for founding an ideal state of Magnesia. The mixed constitution that he put forward in the Laws is an important principle and system in political domain even to this day. The state talked about in the Laws was a state of education. The systematic educational programme raised in this book held a prominent position in the western history of education. Additionally, the Laws made a meaningful exploration to some problems in economy, education, religion, moral principles and ethics, family and marriage etc., meaning that this book was both extensive and profound in learning. The Laws was, in the mean while, surrealistic works, which approached reality more than the Republic. In the Laws, Plato changed many important principles appeared in the Republic and set some new ones that had more guiding significance to real society. The Laws had a great influence not only on ancient times of Europe but also on modern and contemporary times of Europe and even the world. The Laws is splendid cultural heritage of human beings.