Blitz, Mark, "Virtue and Politics: The Laws," Plato's Political Philosophy, Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2010, 82-114.

Excerpt:

We pursue our study of virtue by considering more fully Plato’s understanding of its place in politics. His thematic discussion of politics occurs in three dialogues, the Laws, the Republic, and the Statesman. As we have seen, moreover, political ambition stimulates many young Athenians and is a prod to inquiry in several conversations.

It is useful before we discuss the Laws in this chapter, and the Republic and Statesman later, to identify the elements of Plato’s understanding of politics that differ most from our own. These differences sometimes prevent us from taking his arguments seriously. They are also sometimes bypassed by those who believe that Plato highlights political truths we foolishly disregard today. After all, how many current Platonists would actually choose to live under the regimentation he apparently favors? For them, rather, Plato’s practical use comes from seeing how good elements from his regimes can be insinuated into our own. So, while calling Plato “totalitarian” is a foolish and dangerous overstatement, we should recognize that few now could abide, say, the Laws’ regime, whatever our pretensions.

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