The Dialogues, Volume 5

Dialogues of Plato (Vol. 5) contains Laws, the final and longest work by Plato, translated into English by Benjamin Jowett and first published in 1892. Unlike the earlier dialogues centred on Socrates, Laws presents a more austere and practical vision of political philosophy, conducted largely through extended discussion rather than dramatic exchange. It represents Plato’s last and most detailed reflection on legislation, governance, and the moral foundations of the state.

Laws examines how a well-ordered society might be constructed when ideal rulers such as philosopher-kings are no longer assumed. Through a systematic exploration of education, religion, ethics, property, family life, crime, and punishment, Plato seeks to design a legal framework that shapes character as well as behaviour. Law is treated not merely as coercion, but as a moral guide, intended to cultivate virtue and harmony within the community.

The dialogue also reveals a more cautious and conservative Plato, one deeply concerned with stability, tradition, and the long-term survival of institutions. While reason remains central, Laws places greater emphasis on custom, discipline, and the gradual formation of civic virtue, reflecting a shift from utopian idealism toward practical political realism.

As a standalone volume, Laws offers a profound and often overlooked counterpart to The Republic, showing how Plato’s political thought evolved in his later years. Jowett’s clear and restrained translation makes this demanding work accessible to readers interested in classical philosophy, legal theory, and the enduring question of how societies should be governed.