714
Athenian
Ath. Are you aware that, according to some, there are as many kinds of laws as there are kinds of constitutions? And how many constitutions are commonly recognized we have recently recounted.Plat. Laws 712c. Please do not suppose that the problem now raised is one of small importance; rather it is of the highest importance. For we are againCp. Plat. Laws 630b, 690b, 690c. faced with the problem as to what ought to be the aim of justice and injustice. The assertion of the people I refer to is this,— that the laws ought not to aim either at war or at goodness in general, but ought to have regard to the benefit of the established polity, whatever it may be, so that it may keep in power forever and never be dissolved; and that the natural definition of justice is best stated in this way.
Clinias
Clin. In what way?
Athenian
Ath. That justice is what benefits the stronger.Cp.Plat. Rep. 1.338, 2.367..
5
Clinias
Clin. Explain yourself more clearly.
Athenian
Ath. This is how it is:—the laws (they say) in a State are always enacted by the stronger power? Is it not so?
Clinias
Clin. That is quite true.
Athenian
Ath. Do you suppose, then (so they argue), that a democracy or any other government—even a tyrant—if it has gained the mastery, will of its own accord set up laws with any other primary aim than that of securing the permanence of its own authority?
Clinias
Clin. Certainly not.
10
Athenian
Ath. Then the lawgiver will style these enactments justice, and will punish every transgressor as guilty of injustice.
Clinias
Clin. That is certainly probable.