The Republic

by Plato (Author); Lee, Desmond (Translator); Lee, Desmond (Introduction by)

• ISBN13: 9780140440485
• ISBN10: 0140440488
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1955-09-01
• Publisher: Penguin Classics

Summary

Essestially an inquiry into morality, the Republic is the central work of the Western world's most famous philosopher. Containing crucial arguments and insights into many other areas of philosophy, it is also a literary masterpiece: the philosophy is presented for the most part for ordinaryreaders, who are carried along by the wit and intensity of the dialogue and by Plato's unforgettable images of the human condition. This new, lucid translation is complemented by full explanatory notes and an up-to-date critical introduction.

Table of Contents

PREFACE	ix	(2)
TRANSLATOR'S INTRODUCTION	xi
PART I: INTRODUCTION (327)	3	(53)
BK I 1. Prelude	3	(5)
2. The Conventional View of Justice Developed	8	(8)
3. Thrasymachus and the Rejection of Conventional Morality	16	(27)
1. First Statement and Criticisms	16	(9)
2. Second Statement and Final Refutation	25	(18)
BK II 4. Adeimantus and Glaucon Restate the Case for Injustice	43	(13)
1. Glaucon	43	(6)
2. Adeimantus	49	(7)
PART II: PRELIMINARIES (367)	56	(14)
1. First Principles of Social Organization	56	(7)
2. Civilized Society	63	(3)
3. Qualities Required in the Guardians	66	(4)
PART III: EDUCATION: THE FIRST STAGE (376)	70	(48)
1. Secondary (Literary) Education. The Need for Suitable Literature Current Literature Unsuitable	70	(36)
BK III (a) Theologically	70	(10)
(b) Morally	80	(10)
Requirements
(c) Formal	90	(8)
(d) Musical	98	(4)
Summary	102	(4)
2. Physical Education	106	(12)
PART IV: GUARDIANS AND AUXILIARIES (412)	118	(19)
1. The Three Classes and their Mutual Relations	118	(5)
BK IV 2. The Rulers' and Auxiliaries' Way of Life	123	(5)
3. Final Provisions for Unity	128	(9)
PART V: JUSTICE IN STATE AND INDIVIDUAL (427)	137	(29)
1. Justice in the State	137	(10)
2. The Elements in Mental Conflict	147	(11)
3. Justice in the Individual	158	(5)
4. Conclusion	163	(3)
PART VI: WOMEN AND THE FAMILY (499)	166	(34)
BK V 1. The Status of Women	166	(11)
2. Marriage and the Family	177	(16)
3. The Rules of War	193	(7)
PART VII: THE PHILOSOPHER RULER (471)	200	(65)
1. The Ideal and the Actual	200	(3)
2. Definition of the Philosopher	203	(17)
BK VI 1. The Philosopher and the Two Orders of Reality	206	(10)
2. The Qualities of Character Required in the Philosopher	216	(4)
3. The Prejudice against Philosophy	220	(12)
4. The Philosopher Ruler not Impossible	232	(7)
5. The Good as Ultimate Object of Knowledge	239	(10)
BK VII 6. The Divided Line	249	(6)
7. The Simile of the Cave	255	(10)
PART VIII: EDUCATION OF THE PHILOSOPHER (521)	265	(30)
1. Preliminary	265	(5)
2. The Five Mathematical Studies	270	(10)
3. Dialectic	280	(6)
4. Selection and Curriculum	286	(9)
PART IX: IMPERFECT SOCIETIES (543)	295	(64)
BK VIII 1. Recapitulation	295	(3)
2. Timarchy	298	(5)
3. The Timarchic Character	303	(2)
4. Oligarchy	305	(4)
5. The Oligarchic Character	309	(2)
6. Democracy	311	(4)
7. The Democratic Character	315	(5)
8. Tyranny	320	(10)
BK IX 9. The Tyrannical Character	330	(6)
10. The Types of Character and their Degrees of Happiness	336	(17)
11. Conclusion	353	(6)
PART X: THEORY OF ART (595)	359	(19)
BK X 1. Art and Illusion	359	(11)
2. The Appeal of Art and Poetry	370	(4)
3. The Effects of Poetry and Drama	374	(4)
PART XI: THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL AND THE REWARDS OF GOODNESS (608)	378	(16)
1. The Soul Immortal	378	(5)
2. The Rewards of Goodness in this Life	383	(2)
3. The Myth of Er	385	(9)
APPENDIX I: THE PHILOSOPHICAL PASSAGES IN THE REPUBLIC	394	(6)
APPENDIX II: THE SPINDLE OF NECESSITY	400	(6)
BIBLIOGRAPHY	406