The Republic

The classic translation of the cornerstone work of western philosophy Plato`s Republic is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential works in the history of philosophy. Presented in the form of a dialogue between Socrates and three different interlocutors, it is an inquiry into the notion of a perfect community and the ideal individual within it. During the conversation other questions are raised: what is goodness, what is reality, what is knowledge, what is the purpose of education? With remarkable lucidity and deft use of allegory, Plato arrives at a depiction of a state bound by harmony and ruled by `philosopher kings`. Translated by DESMOND LEE with an Introduction by MELISSA LANE