Laws
The Laws is Plato's longest dialogue and probably his last, left unfinished at his death in 347 BC. Three old men, an unnamed Athenian, the Cretan Clinias and the Spartan Megillus, walk from Cnossos to the cave of Zeus on a summer day and discuss the constitution for a new colony Clinias is to found. Where the Republic imagined rule by philosophers, the Laws accepts that a city must be governed by written laws and persuasive preambles, and it legislates in detail for marriage, property, education, music, drinking parties, religion, crime and punishment, and the Nocturnal Council that will guard the whole. Benjamin Jowett's translation, with his long introduction, makes an austere work approachable. It is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, with the first chapter free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about Laws
Laws by Plato can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read Laws online?
Yes. Laws opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is Laws free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Laws is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is Laws in the public domain?
Yes. Laws by Plato is a public-domain work, here in the translation by Benjamin Jowett. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read Laws?
About 15 h 55 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is Laws?
Laws by Plato is filed under "Philosophy" in the Vinteuil library.
