Plato Laws 10 Translated with an Introduction and Commentary [Paperback]

TheLawsis Plato's last and longest dialogue. Although it has been neglected (compared to such works as theRepublicandSymposium), it is beginning to receive a great deal of scholarly attention. Book 10 of theLawscontains Plato's fullest defence of the existence of the gods, and his last word on their nature, as well as a presentation and defence of laws against impiety (e.g. atheism). Plato's primary aim is to defend the idea that the gods exist and that they are good - this latter meaning that they do not neglect human beings and cannot be swayed by prayers and sacrifices to overlook injustice. As such, theLawsis an important text for anyone interested in ancient Greek religion, philosophy, and politics generally, and the later thought of Plato in particular.
Robert Mayhew presents a new translation, with commentary, of Book X of theLaws. His primary aim in the translation is fidelity to the Greek. His commentary focuses on philosophical issues (broadly understood to include religion and politics), and deals with philological matters only when doing so serves to better explain those issues. Knowledge of Greek is not assumed, and the Greek that does appear has been transliterated. It is the first commentary in English of any kind onLaws Xfor nearly 140 years.

Preface
Introduction
Translation
Commentary
Textual notes
Bibliography
Index locorum
General index

Robert Mayhewis Professor of Philosophy at Seton Hall University, New Jersey.