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In this first comprehensive study of Plato´s conception of justice, apprehension of human dignity plays a crucial role for understanding an individual in relation to law and state. Plato´s philosophy turns out to provide foundations for modern-day human rights protection rather than for totalitarian approaches.

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This book is the first comprehensive study of Plato´s conception of justice. The universality of human rights and the universality of human dignity, which is recognised as their source, are among the crucial philosophical problems in modern-day legal orders and in contemporary culture in general. If dignity is genuinely universal, then human beings also possessed it in ancient times. Plato not only perceived human dignity, but a recognition of dignity is also visible in his conception of justice, which forms the core of his philosophy. Plato´s "Republic" is consistently interpreted here as a treatise on justice, relating to an individual and not to the state. The famous myth of the cave is a story about education taking place in the world here and now. The best activity is not contemplation, but acting for the benefit of others. Not ideas, but individuals are the proper objects of love. Plato´s philosophy may provide foundations for modern-day human rights protection rather than for totalitarian orders.

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Dignity as a fundamental value in law and Plato on dignity in the Timaeus - The Republic as a dialogue on the individual and justice in the model of the state as a phantom of justice - Justice and freedom - Equality and friendship as an aim of law - An individual as an object of love - Just actions over contemplation - The story of community of wives and testing wisdom and courage of readers of the Republic

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Marek Piechowiak habilitated in philosophy and is a professor of legal sciences. His scholarly work concerns primarily the philosophical foundations of international and constitutional protection of human rights, including in a historical perspective. His current research focuses on legal and philosophical conceptions of dignity. He works in the SWPS University Law School.

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