{"product_id":"platos-second-republic-andrzs-laks-9780691236070","title":"Plato's Second Republic: An Essay on the Laws","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAn argument for why Plato's \u003ci\u003eLaws\u003c\/i\u003e can be considered his most important political dialogue\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn \u003ci\u003ePlato's Second Republic, \u003c\/i\u003e André Laks argues that the \u003ci\u003eLaws\u003c\/i\u003e, Plato's last and longest dialogue, is also his most important political work, surpassing the \u003ci\u003eRepublic \u003c\/i\u003ein historical relevance. Laks offers a thorough reappraisal of this less renowned text, and examines how it provides a critical foundation for the principles of lawmaking. In doing so, he makes clear the tremendous impact the \u003ci\u003eLaws\u003c\/i\u003e had not only on political philosophy, but also on modern political history. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eLaks shows how the four central ideas in the \u003ci\u003eLaws\u003c\/i\u003e--the corruptibility of unchecked power, the rule of law, a \"middle\" constitution, and the political necessity of legislative preambles--are articulated within an intricate and masterful literary architecture. He reveals how the work develops a theological conception of law anchored in political ideas about a god, divine reason, that is the measure of political order. Laks's reading opens a complex analysis of the relationships between rulers and citizens; their roles in a political system; the power of reason and persuasion, as opposed to force, in commanding obedience; and the place of freedom. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlato's Second Republic\u003c\/i\u003e presents a sophisticated reevaluation of a philosophical work that has exerted an enormous if often hidden influence even into the present day.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e André Laks\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0691236070\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780691236070\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Princeton University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 09\/23\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 296\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.92lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.21h x 6.14w x 0.67d","brand":"André Laks","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48517383913727,"sku":"9780691236070","price":24.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_9767b287-9d54-4eca-9459-7c66e357ce48.jpg?v=1778731632","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/platos-second-republic-andrzs-laks-9780691236070","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}