플라톤의 정치이론 체계에서 『법률(Nomoi)』의 의의 －『법률(Nomoi)』의 독해방식에 대한 하나의 제안－

Although 『Nomoi(Laws)』 is Plato’s last work, and one of his most important works, scholars often show confusion on how to read this work. It is because many readers of this work usually think 『Nomoi』 reveals a new and different political doctrine, which is the ‘rule by law’ compared to the ‘rule by philosophical king’ in 『Politeia(Republic)』. However, in this paper, I assert that 『Nomoi』 can be read coherently with Plato’s other works on political theory and even that 『Nomoi』 is the completion of his political theory. This argument is supported by the context of 『Nomoi』. In 『Nomoi』, we can find that by rearranging the debates on nomos and physis, Plato tried to establish a coherent legal system which is guided by idea(reason). After all, in 『Nomoi』, law becomes a means to control people’s liberty for promotion of the arete(virtue) of the polis(city nation, republic). Therefore, it is unreasonable to consider the rule by law doctrine in 『Nomoi』 as the rule of law doctrine in modern constitutional theory. In conclusion, following this understanding of 『Nomoi』, it is needed to read 『Nomoi』 more specifically and coherently in the context of Plato’s political philosophy.