
Susan Sauve Meyer presents a new translation of Plato's Laws 1 & 2 In these opening books of Plato's last work a Cretan a Spartan & an Athenian discuss legislative theory moral psychology & the criteria for evaluating art The interlocutors compare the relative merits of different nomoi (laws practices institutions) in particular the communal meals (sussitia) practiced in Sparta & Crete & the paradigmatically Athenian institution of the drinking party (sumposion) They agree that the legislator's goal is to inculcate virtue in the citizens but they disagree about what the virtues are & what institutions are required to inculcate them The Spartan & Cretan who value military strength in a city & courage in its citizens see no value in drinking parties which they take to encourage softness & susceptibility to pleasure The Athenian insists that drinking parties train citizens in moderation just as military exercises train citizens in courage He d