Book cover of Plato's Republic

Plato's Republic

by Plato (Πλάτων)

Plato's Republic is a Socratic dialogue which deals mainly with the definition of justice, the characteristics of a just city state and the just man. Although it was written more than two thousand years ago, many of the ideas and thoughts expounded here are still very much relevant to modern society. This is Plato's best known work and is also considered his most influential especially when it comes to the fields of philosophy and political theory. The Republic is divided into ten books and in each book Socrates discusses different topics from the immortality of the soul to the meaning of justice with his disciples like Glaucon, Thrasymachus, Adeimantus and others. The first two books focus on justice and its meaning. After hearing the arguments of his disciples, Socrates made a very enlightening statement when he said that it's the advantage of a person to be just and it's his disadvantage to be unjust. A statement like this can be very much true today as it is thousands of years ago. After that, they continued their discussions about education and the guardian class. I'm sure many have already heard about the guardians, in this book Socrates referred to them as the ideal rulers of an ideal city. Book eight of the The Republic discusses the different types of government, some of which we're familiar with today. Socrates referred to the different types of governments as timocracy, oligarchy, democracy and tyranny. It's interesting to note that he considered these types of governments including democracy as unjust. He said that in a democracy there's a strong tendency for the poor people to revolt against the rich class because the rich enjoy too much freedom in this kind of government. This work by Plato is a timeless classic and it laid the ground work for many important modern philosophical and political ideas. This book is definitely a good read especially to political science or law students and the philosopher in all of us.

Book Details

Language

English

Original Language

Ancient Greek

Published In

Author

Plato (Πλάτων) image

Plato ( Classical Attic; 428/427 or 424/423 – 348/347 BC)) was an Athenian philosopher during the Classical period in Ancient Greece, founder of the Platonist school of thought and the Academy,...

More on Plato (Πλάτων)

Listen/Download Audiobook

Read by:
00:00
Playback Speed 1.0
00:00
  • Select Speed

Related books

Public Opinion  Cover image

Public Opinion by Walter Lippmann

Public Opinion is a book by Walter Lippmann published in 1922. It is a critical assessment of functional democratic government, especially of the irra...

Godliness Cover image

Godliness by Catherine Booth

This Book is a profound and thought-provoking book that delves into the essence of true spiritual growth. This timeless masterpiece, written by Cathe...

What is Industrial Democracy Cover image

What is Industrial Democracy by Norman Thomas

In this, Norman Thomas explores the concept of industrial democracy and its potential to transform the way we view and experience work. "What is Indu...

Cuban Folk Lore Cover image

Cuban Folk Lore by L. Roy Terwilliger

Embark on a captivating journey into the heart of Cuban folklore, where legends and myths intertwine with the vibrant tapestry of Cuban culture. Uncov...

Final Report of the Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities (Watergate Report), Volume 2 Cover image

Final Report of the Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities (Watergate Report), Volume 2 by Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities

The Watergate scandal was one of the biggest political scandals in American history, and the Final Report of the Senate Select Committee on Presidenti...

A Woman and the War Cover image

A Woman and the War by Frances Evelyn (Daisy) Greville

It is not without serious reflection that I have collected these thoughts in war time to offer in book form to those who may care to read and ponder t...

The Ego and His Own  Cover image

The Ego and His Own by Max Stirner

A philosophical case for a radical egoism that shuns the socially-oriented outlooks of both "establishment" ideologies and of revolutionaries in favor...

Charles Sumner, The Scholar in Politics Cover image

Charles Sumner, The Scholar in Politics by Archibald Grimké

In the realm of American politics, one man dared to challenge the status quo, wielding intellect and knowledge as his most potent weapons. Enter the w...

The Irish Land Question  Cover image

The Irish Land Question by Henry George

It explores the complex political and economic issues surrounding land ownership in Ireland during the late 19th century. The book was originally publ...

Enquiry Concerning Political Justice and its Influence on Morals and Happiness. Volume 1 Cover image

Enquiry Concerning Political Justice and its Influence on Morals and Happiness. Volume 1 by William Godwin

Enquiry Concerning Political Justice and its Influence on Morals and Happiness is a 1793 book by the philosopher William Godwin, in which the author o...

Reviews for Plato's Republic

No reviews posted or approved, yet...