Philosopher-Kings: The Argument of Plato's Republic

by C.D.C. Reeve

Philosopher-Kings broke new ground on its first appearance by delivering to an audience accustomed to looking for flaws in Plato's thinking an interpretation of the Republic that celebrates the coherence of Plato's argument as it ramifies through every cranny of that controversial work. Reeve's book swiftly became a classic of Platonic scholarship and has never lost its grip. Its reissue by Hackett is a very welcome event. --G. R. F. Ferrari, University of California, Berkeley

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Politics

368 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

C. D. C. Reeve is a philosophy professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He works primarily in Ancient Greek philosophy, especially Plato and Aristotle. He is also interested in philosophy generally, and has published work in the philosophy of sex and love, and on film. He has also translated many Ancient Greek texts, mostly by Plato and Aristotle.

Reviews

[Alexander]

This is a very powerful defense of the dialogue's coherence. Some of Reeve's claims are quite unorthodox, but his arguments for them generally strike me as compelling. Ultimately, only further engagement with the primary text will enable me to decide, and it's that toward which the book impels me.