The Republic

by Plato
The Republic cover
Good Books rating 4.3
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  • ID: 242
  • Added: 2025-09-06
  • Updated: 2025-11-01
  • Formats: 195
  • Reviews: 4
Reviews
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy · 2025-09-06
comprehensive 4.70

Plato’s Republic is a complex and wide-ranging dialogue that defends the just life as the happiest, addressing justice both politically and ethically.

The review emphasizes the breadth of subjects covered in The Republic, from justice and happiness to education, philosophy, and the afterlife, highlighting the difficulty in interpreting the dialogue as a unified argument. It stresses that Plato uses the construction of an ideal city, Kallipolis, as a metaphor to explore justice and its role in human life, showing the inseparability of ethics and politics in his thought. The dialogue’s scope is vast, making it a foundational text for understanding political philosophy and ethics, with Socrates as the main interlocutor throughout.

Quick quotes

    The Republic has been Plato’s most famous and widely read dialogue.

    Plato’s philosophical concerns in the dialogue are ethical and political.

    Socrates and his interlocutors construct a just city in speech, the Kallipolis.

SparkNotes · 2025-09-06
insightful 4.50

The dialogue draws a deep analogy between justice in the city and justice in the individual, emphasizing the rational part of the soul as the key to a just life.

This review highlights Plato's strategy in The Republic to define justice first in the political realm and then analogously in the individual. It explains how the three parts of the soul correspond to the three social classes and how justice is achieved when the rational part rules, supported by the spirited part, with the appetitive part obedient. The philosopher kings symbolize the ideal rulers who embody wisdom and reason, which are essential for a just society and individual. The review also notes the detailed psychological and political parallels Plato draws, making the work a profound exploration of ethics and governance.

Quick quotes

    The just individual can be defined in analogy with the just society; the three parts of his soul achieve the requisite relationships of power and influence in regard to one another.

    In a just individual, the rational part of the soul rules, the spirited part of the soul supports this rule, and the appetitive part of the soul submits and follows wherever reason leads.

    Books 5 through 7 focus on the rulers as the philosopher kings.

Goodreads · 2025-01-01
masterful 4.00

The book is praised for its lucidity and use of allegory in depicting a harmonious state ruled by philosopher kings. It is considered a masterpiece of philosophical thought.

This review highlights the remarkable clarity and allegorical depth of Plato's work. The depiction of a state governed by philosopher kings is seen as a visionary and harmonious ideal. The reviewer emphasizes the enduring relevance of Plato's ideas, which continue to inspire and provoke thought. The book is celebrated as a cornerstone of philosophical literature, offering profound insights into justice, governance, and the ideal society.

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    With remarkable lucidity and deft use of allegory, Plato arrives at a depiction of a state bound by harmony and ruled by philosopher kings.

    The Republic is undoubtedly one of Plato's masterworks and one of the most influential and widely read books in the history of philosophy.

    Plato's ideas are bold and controversial and very much relevant even today.

Eclectic Indulgence · 2012-04-14
Thought-provoking 4.00

The text offers profound insights into justice and governance, though some ideas feel dated. It's a timeless work that challenges modern readers to reflect on societal structures.

The reviewer appreciates the depth of Plato's exploration of justice and governance, noting that while some ideas may seem outdated, the text remains a timeless work. They highlight the importance of Plato's thoughts on women's rights, lamenting that it took over 2,300 years for society to catch up. The dialogue format is engaging, making complex philosophical concepts accessible. However, the reviewer also acknowledges that some of Plato's arguments may not hold up to modern scrutiny, making it a thought-provoking but sometimes frustrating read.

Quick quotes

    Women weren't even granted the right to vote in the United States until 1920!

    Sad that it took over 2,300 years to learn from Plato's thoughts.

    The text offers profound insights into justice and governance.

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