Minos (dialogue)

Minos
Oldest manuscript
Manuscript: Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale, Gr. 1807 (19th century)
AuthorPlato or Pseudo-Plato
Original titleΜίνως
LanguageGreek
SubjectPhilosophy of law
Publication placeAncient Greece

Minos (/ˈmnɒs, -nəs/; Greek: Μίνως) is purported to be one of the dialogues of Plato. It features Socrates and a companion who together attempt to find a definition of "law" (Greek: νόμος, nómos).

Despite its authenticity having been doubted by many scholars,[1] it has often been regarded as a foundational document in the history of legal philosophy,[2] particularly in the theory of natural law.[3] It has also conversely been interpreted as describing a largely procedural theory of law.[4] Ancient commentators have traditionally considered the work as a preamble to Plato's final dialogue, Laws.

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  4. ^ Best 1980, pp. 102–113.

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