Socrates describes the four types of government timocracy, oligarchy, democracy, and tyranny. There are any number of reasons for this, but one of them is the sheer breadth of topics and issues that plato introduces over the course of the dialogue. The final book of the republic begins with socrates return to an earlier theme, that of imitative poetry. The internet classics archive the republic by plato. Librivox recording of platos republic read by librivox volunteers. Also, the kings are to be those among them who have proved to be the best, both in philosophy and in warfare. Carlos plato summary plato was a man from ancient greece, who was against athenian democracy. The republic is arguably the most popular and most widely taught of platos writings. Gerasimos santas, understanding plato s republic, wileyblackwell, 2010, 238pp. Socrates imagines a gradual failure of the city as it passes through each government.
Apr 08, 2020 platos the republic explained with book summaries in just a few minutes. A highlight is the concise, substantive introduction that usefully encapsulates much of reeve s own scholarship. Socrates attempts to prove that the philosopher is best suited to rule. It is known as a socratic dialogue and is perhaps one of platos best known works. The four regimes socrates now names are the cretan or spartan regime, oligarchy, democracy, and. Aug 17, 2009 plato s republic, book viii book viii starts with a useful summary of the republic socrates has envisioned. The republic is a socratic dialogue by plato, written in approximately 380 bc. At the beginning of book 8 socrates summarizes the main features of the perfect state, and glaucon recalls socrates had previously promised the company to discuss the four principal forms of defective, or lessthanperfect, states.
It is one of the most influential works of philosophy and political theory, and arguably platos best known work. That being said, platos republic stands as the most important book of political theory ever written. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. A highlight is the concise, substantive introduction that usefully encapsulates much of reeves own scholarship. The argument of the republic is the search after justice, the nature of which is first hinted at by cephalus, the just and blameless old manthen discussed on the basis of proverbial morality by socrates and polemarchusthen caricatured by thrasymachus and partially explained by socratesreduced to an abstraction by glaucon and. Adeimantus interrupts to point out that most people think philosophers are vicious cranks, and the few good ones are useless to society. His criticism of the states he saw about him is simply that they are ruled by unjust men practicing injustice upon their citizenry. Instead, the whole text is presented as told by socrates as he recalls the event. The central flaw in democracy, in his view, is an uncontrolled desire for freedom, which evolves into anarchy, thus leading to tyranny an attempt to control the anarchy. In platos early dialogues, socrates refutes the accounts of his. Plato allegory of the cave the republic, book vii, 514a521d. It is a fiction book in the format of a discussion between socrates and others. Age isnt easy for a good man if hes poor, nor will a bad man ever be cheerful with himself even if hes rich. The republic is the centre around which the other dialogues may be grouped here philosophy reaches the highest point cp, especially in books v, vi, vii to.
In book 8 socrates discusses these forms, or political constitutions, in turn. Quite a few comments have been posted about the republic. They are aristocracy, timocracy, oligarchy, democracy, and tyranny. Plato the republic book 8 pdf but, above all, the platonic text is now gripping because of its very. Now that the true state and true human have been clearly illustrated, the philosophers can revive the thread introduced earlier in the dialogue. Adeimantus interrupts to point out that most people. Platos the republic explained with book summaries in just a few minutes. No book has influenced my life more than plato s republic.
Plato the wrestler and athlete saw the degeneracy of his corpulent fellowcitizens. The republic summary our story begins as socrates and his friend glaucon head home from a festival. As in most other platonic dialogues the main character is socrates. It is generally accepted that the republic belongs to the dialogues of platos middle period. Thus the audio book version, where different characters are narrated by different actors excellently, is the most pleasant way to enjoy the content of platos republic.
From plato on democracy, part ii, and how democracy leads to tyranny republic bk viii, plato says how the demos werent smart enough to make correct decisions, and that democracy was one of the worst ways of government. However, the first book of the republic, which shares many features with earlier dialogues, is thought to have originally been written as a separate work, and then the remaining books were conjoined to it, perhaps with modifications to the original of the first book. Platos republic, book viii book viii starts with a useful summary of the republic socrates has envisioned. The philosopher as a lover of learning and truth is disinclined to attend to physical pleasures. Ready to call it a night, theyre intercepted by a whole gang of their acquaintances, who eventually convince them to come hang out at polemarchuss house and have a nice, long chat. To therejectionof imitativepoetry,whichcertainlyought not to be received. It is platos bestknown work, and has proven to be one of the worlds most influential works of philosophy. In it, socrates and various other athenians and foreigners discuss the meaning of justice and whether the just man is happier than the unjust man by. True art is not fanciful and imitative, but simple and ideal,the expression of the highest moral energy, whether in action or repose. After the republic i translated rousseaus emile, the greatest modem book. During platos life, athens was briefly controlled by an oligarchy, which rapidly decayed into a democracy, which executed socrates.
He reiterates that while he is still content with having banished poetry from their state, he wishes to explain his reasons more thoroughly. In the third book of the republic a nearer approach is made to a theory of art than anywhere else in plato. Res publica is a socratic dialogue, authored by plato around 375 bc, concerning justice. Age isnt easy for a good man if he s poor, nor will a bad man ever be cheerful with himself even if he s rich. The republic has been divided into the following sections. A classics book group discussed platos republic and concepts such as republic and democracy. Such a man, socrates explains, is produced in this way. The four regimes socrates now names are the cretan or spartan regime, oligarchy, democracy, and tyranny. For those i mean are precisely those that have names 18 in common usage. Economic issues did not really become apparent until the first wave of globalozation began, so plato should have focused on politics instead. Our story begins as socrates and his friend glaucon head home from a festival. The republic is undoubtedly one of platos masterworks and one of the most influential and widely read books in the history of philosophy. The republic is arguably the most popular and most widely taught of plato s writings. Sep 19, 2016 plato was a man from ancient greece, who was against athenian democracy.
Ready to call it a night, theyre intercepted by a whole gang of their acquaintances, who eventually convince them to come hang out at polemarchus s house and have a nice, long chat. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Socrates argues that there are four main types of unjust states. Reeves new translation of republic is the one to order for students. And this entire geometrical number is determinative of this thing, of better and inferior births. The republic book viii summary and analysis gradesaver.
Indeed, the republic stands today as his fearless rebuke of his own times. Plato allegory of the cave the republic, book vii, 514a521d socrates and now, i said, let me show in a figure how far our nature is enlightened or unenlightened. Although it contains its dramatic moments and it employs certain literary devices, it is not a play, a novel, a story. So in many places socrates refers to what others are saying. It keeps him from having to leave life in the fear of owing debts to men or sacrifices to the gods. The central issues in this book are of great importance, but one should also take note of the side issues that plato raises in political theory and philosophy. Of such offspring the previous generation will establish the best, to be sure. They are timocracy rule for the sake of honor, oligarchy rule of the few. It is at the end of book 4 a number of strands in the argument finally come together to produce a definition of justice, which was socrates s quest from the very beginning of the dialogue. During plato s life, athens was briefly controlled by an oligarchy, which rapidly decayed into a democracy, which executed socrates. As written by plato, the republic does not have these indicators.
In 389 b he only permits falsehood to the rulers as a. However there are complexities and contradictions in the platonic text on female equality. Res publica was written in 380 bc and this version was translated by benjamin jowett in 1871. Platos theory of degradation set forth a gradual deterioration through the successive stages of timocracy, oligarchy, democracy and despotism. Course hero literature instructor russell jaffe provides an indepth summary and analysis of book 8 of platos. They also talked about the relevance of platos thought to todays society. But the son is influenced by a bad mother and servants, who pull him toward the love of money. With erik anderson, martin horn, alex mccooeye, mehrtash mohit. It is known as a socratic dialogue and is perhaps one of plato s best known works. Socrates replies that this view is the result of faults in society, not in philosophers.
Reviewed by michelle jenkins, whitman college the republic is undoubtedly one of plato s masterworks and one of the most influential and widely read books in the history of philosophy. Many have struggled with how republic is written, since its mostly dialogues. He then goes on to describe a mixedform which we can call a kallipolis beautiful city or ideal polity, his ideal mixedrepublic. The introduction 54k book i 99k book ii 92k book iii 109k book iv 93k book v 112k book vi 95k book vii 92k book viii 92k book ix 76k. Plato the thinker did not countenance fools and hypocrites gladly. Reeve draws on his thorough understanding of plato s central work to provide an informed translation and properly brief supporting apparatus. Plato was not a stranger to robbers and cutthroats and murderers of various criminal hues. This edition of the republic is important because it includes alan blooms interpretive essay.
Reeve s new translation of republic is the one to order for students. Plato allegory of the cave the republic, book vii, 514a. About platos republic cliffsnotes study guides book. Res publica is a socratic dialogue, written by plato around 375 bc, concerning justice. The introduction 54k book i 99k book ii 92k book iii 109k. He adds that there are equivalent kinds of human soul for each government. The republic, book i plato note that i have added name indicators to identify whose words are being communicated throughout the dialogue. Since the midnineteenth century, the republic has been platos most famous and widely read dialogue.
Plato discusses five regimes five forms of government in his republic, book viii. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of the republic and what it means. The discourse begins with socrates heralding their need to backtrack a little. After summarizing their decisions and the description of the city, socrates returns to his statement that the method used in the governing of this city is good, while there are four others worth discussing that are not good. No book has influenced my life more than platos republic. In book v, socrates was about to develop his theories of injustice by arguing examples of injustice, when polemarchus and adeimantus asked him to continue his conversation about the guardians. Book 4 marks an important point in the complex structure of the republic as a whole. In book two, socrates, thrasymachus and adeimantus decide to focus on a. It is platos bestknown work, and has proven to be one of the worlds most influential works of philosophy and political theory, both intellectually. Reeve draws on his thorough understanding of platos central work to provide an informed translation and properly brief supporting apparatus. The republic by plato meet your next favorite book. It is also devilishly difficult to truly understand.