The Republic - Plato

Republic. The roots of the former word lead us back to the latin two wor equivalent res publica which roughly means "public affairs". However the original title in Greek "politia", has a similar though not identical. It is more closely related to the abstract concept of a state's constitution. Plato unfolds in this book, his whole conception of the ideal state, through a dialectic process, between Socrates and a group of Athenian citizens(Glauchon, Adeimantus, Thrasymachus among them). Firstly, Plato through Socrates discusses the idea of justice, and by means of his proposal to study justice on the macroscopic level of society justice, ...

Before Thomas Moore created his Utopia Plato had discussed in detail the formation of a perfect nation state. And while Thomas Moore's utopia meant an imaginary world Plato's was essentially a potential reality. The discussion in this weighty "book" revolves around Plato and the members of his friends debating the elements of a stable, happy and safe nation state. The elements are fundamentally: Everyone knowing their place in society and being happy with it. Strong leadership with no contradiction after decision-making Reliance on the importance of morality. I am sure others will add others, but these topics are ...

Plato's Republic is probably the most widely read book in the history of philosophy. Plato himself was a Greek philosopher, pupil of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, and so influential the early 20th century philosopher A. N. Whitehead described all subsequent developments in the field of philosophy as 'footnotes to Plato's work'. I first came across The Republic, Plato's seminal work, while on an open day to Oxford. Knowing I wanted to study philosophy, I picked up several books, one of which was Republic. I read it that summer and to tell the truth was slightly confused - parts of it stuck with me, but it being the first philosophy book ...