Republic (Plato)
The revised edition of Grube's classic translation of Plato's Republic follows and furthers Grube's noted success in combining fidelity to Plato’s text with natural readability while reflecting the fruits of new scholarship and insights into Plato's thought since the publication of the first edition in 1974.
Divided into ten books, each book of The "Republic" addresses different aspects of the ideal state. In Book I, Socrates engages in a dialogue with several characters, including Glaucon and Adeimantus, to examine the nature of justice. They explore the idea that justice is not merely a social construct but is rooted in the well-ordered soul of an individual, leading to a harmonious society.
In Book II, Socrates introduces the concept of the "guardians," a class of philosopher-kings who possess both intellectual and moral virtues. These guardians are to rule over the state, devoting their lives to the pursuit of wisdom and the common good. Education plays a central role in Plato's ideal state, as it is believed to shape individuals' character and ensure the proper functioning of society.
Book III delves into the concept of the tripartite soul, where Plato argues that the soul consists of three parts: reason, spirit, and desire. Each part has its own function, and the balance among them determines a person's harmony or disharmony. Plato suggests that a just individual is one whose reason guides the other parts of the soul, reflecting the structure of the ideal state.
The subsequent books explore the structure and organization of the ideal state. Plato discusses various forms of government, including aristocracy, timocracy, oligarchy, democracy, and tyranny. However, he argues that these forms of government are flawed and prone to corruption. Only the rule of the philosopher-kings, who possess the highest knowledge and moral virtue, can lead to a just and harmonious society.
In the final books, Plato addresses topics such as the nature of reality, the theory of Forms, and the immortality of the soul. He presents the allegory of the cave as a metaphor for the journey from ignorance to enlightenment, highlighting the importance of philosophical contemplation and the pursuit of knowledge.