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Plato's Republic: A Study
In this book a distinguished philosopher offers a comprehensive interpretation of Plato’s most controversial dialogue. Treating the Republic as a unity and focusing on the dramatic form as the presentation of the argument, Stanley Rosen challenges earlier analyses of the Republic (including the ironic reading of Leo Strauss and his disciples) and argues that the key to understanding the dialogue is to grasp the author’s intention in composing it, in particular whether Plato believed that the city constructed in the Republic is possible and desirable.
Rosen demonstrates that the fundamental principles underlying the just city are theoretically attractive but that the attempt to enact them in practice leads to conceptual incoherence and political disaster. The Republic, says Rosen, is a vivid illustration of the irreconcilability of philosophy and political practice.
Rosen demonstrates that the fundamental principles underlying the just city are theoretically attractive but that the attempt to enact them in practice leads to conceptual incoherence and political disaster. The Republic, says Rosen, is a vivid illustration of the irreconcilability of philosophy and political practice.
432 pages, Paperback
First published November 11, 2005
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About the author
Stanley Rosen
66 books34 followersStanley Rosen was Borden Parker Bowne Professor of Philosophy and Professor Emeritus at Boston University. His research and teaching focused on the fundamental questions of philosophy and on the most important figures of its history, from Plato to Heidegger.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 30, 2011
A thoroughly close and analytical reading of the Republic. It focuses on the arguments of Socrates and takes each one apart, exposing its flaws while questioning its purpose or role in the dialogue as a whole. This is not a casual treatment, but it isn't technically burdensome either. Rosen occasionally references Hegel or Heidegger, but in passing only; his focus is on how the arguments function (or fail to function) in relation to Plato's ultimate intent. Anyone who wants to take a hard critical look at the Republic will benefit from this study, though of course not everyone will agree with Rosen's conclusions.
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January 4, 2021تست
January 29, 2023
(Jim Cook’s review). Plato’s Republic describes a model of the supposedly perfectly just city. On closer inspection, however, many readers of it have concluded that the moral and political ideals he describes are neither possible nor desirable.
As well, most readers of the Republic will have noticed that it contains a plethora of weak or questionable arguments and faulty logic. This raises an obvious question: is Plato being serious or satirical in this work?
“It is not enough to reject Plato’s version of the just city”, writes Rosen, “one must explain how a consummate thinker and artist like Plato could have produced an acknowledged masterpiece that recommends an absurd course of action.” Tongue firmly in cheek, Rosen wonders aloud whether “one should read Don Quixote before approaching the Republic” (p. 284).
I won’t reveal Rosen’s solution to this paradox here, suffice to say he calls it a “revised version of the Straussian hypothesis” (p. 391).
I’m somewhat hesitant to fully subscribe to Rosen’s “solution” to the paradox of the Republic - a book about justice that advocates many very serious injustices - but I have no hesitation is recommending Rosen’s very close, and very interesting study of one of the foundational works of the Western literary canon.
A solid five stars, but (obviously) an intense read.
As well, most readers of the Republic will have noticed that it contains a plethora of weak or questionable arguments and faulty logic. This raises an obvious question: is Plato being serious or satirical in this work?
“It is not enough to reject Plato’s version of the just city”, writes Rosen, “one must explain how a consummate thinker and artist like Plato could have produced an acknowledged masterpiece that recommends an absurd course of action.” Tongue firmly in cheek, Rosen wonders aloud whether “one should read Don Quixote before approaching the Republic” (p. 284).
I won’t reveal Rosen’s solution to this paradox here, suffice to say he calls it a “revised version of the Straussian hypothesis” (p. 391).
I’m somewhat hesitant to fully subscribe to Rosen’s “solution” to the paradox of the Republic - a book about justice that advocates many very serious injustices - but I have no hesitation is recommending Rosen’s very close, and very interesting study of one of the foundational works of the Western literary canon.
A solid five stars, but (obviously) an intense read.
January 16, 2023
A very fascinating, deeply extensive study on Plato's Republic. While I didn't find myself agreeing with every interpretation Rosen took of the text, I felt that he did excellent work helping me to grasp the extraordinary depths and complexities contained within this classic philosophical work. I most definitely grasp the concepts contained in the Republic far better than I had before this breakdown of the text, and to those who want to interact to a greater degree with and learn more about the musings that, in many ways, formed the foundation of all of western philosophy, this should be on your reading list.
February 9, 2019
Disorganized and repetitive. Doesn't convincingly support its main thesis, that the Republic was meant as something like a satire. Has some insightful points about isolated sections, though.
June 7, 2019
A optimistically eye-opener! the last epilogue of the book I personally did find even more so intrigued to follow. I would totally agree to any novice you wishes to elaborate the fields of philosophical enlightenment. Not so much in human sciences this must be added.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews