Wherever it has been established that it is shameful to be involved with sexual relationships with men, that is due to evil on the part of the rulers, and to cowardice on the part of the governed.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Laws against certain sexual relationships are caused by corrupt rulers and fearful citizens.
- In plain terms
- Unfair laws come from bad leaders and scared people.
- What can you take from it?
- Recognize that some moral laws may serve political ends.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Who benefits from these laws?
- Is morality ever neutral?
Another view
This claim attributes all such laws to malice and fear.
More from Plato
There is only one good, which is knowledge, and one evil, which is ignorance.
Permalink to quote #59 The learning and knowledge that we have, is, at the most, but little compared to that of which we are ignorant.
Permalink to quote #61 I shall assume that your silence gives consent (XLI).
Permalink to quote #58
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