Plato: Laws 10: Translated with an Introduction and Commentary

ISBN-13: 9780199225965 / Angielski / Twarda / 2008 / 240 str.

Mayhew, Robert

Opis

The Laws is Plato's last and longest dialogue. Although it has been neglected (compared to such works as the Republic and Symposium), it is beginning to receive a great deal of scholarly attention. Book 10 of the Laws contains 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, the Laws is 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 the Laws. 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 on Laws X for nearly 140 years.

Recenzje

The translation is overall clear and readable for the Greekless reader. The commentary proceeds section by section, providing helpful divisions and labels, summaries, explanations of important concepts, clarifications of ambiguities and possible confusions, and extensive analyses where necessary... The commentary is sure to become a valubale instrument in further discussions not only of the Laws, but of Plato's attitude to religion and philosophical philosophy.