Minos (dialogue)

Minos
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, it has often been regarded as a foundational document in the history of legal philosophy, particularly in the theory of natural law. It has also conversely been interpreted as describing a largely procedural theory of law. Ancient commentators have traditionally considered the work as a preamble to Plato's final dialogue, Laws.