Philosophy and Law: An Interpretation of Plato's Minos.

Plato's Minos presents a twofold argument. In part it is a facile defense of law directed at a typical Athenian citizen. On another level it is a sophisticated teaching that ponders the question what is law for the would-be philosopher or student of Socrates. These arguments are made in three parts. First, it becomes clear that Socrates' interlocutor has been influenced or corrupted by the teachings of sophists. Second, Socrates attempts to reform the interlocutor's opinion of law by suggesting there is a science of law. Finally, Socrates argues that present day Greek laws are derived from the oldest Greek laws, which were revealed and taught by Zeus himself. With this twofold argument Socrates counters his interlocutor's sophists' influenced opinion of l aw and reveals to the careful reader the complexity of the question: what is law? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]