What do you think?
Rate this book
Ladybird Expert #21
Plato's Republic: A Ladybird Expert Book (34)
Part of the ALL-NEW LADYBIRD EXPERT SERIES
- Why do humans form societies and what is needed for them to thrive?
- How can women's potential be actualized?
- How can we protect ourselves from demagogues and tyrants? IMMERSE yourself in the strikingly relevant questions of Plato's influential dialogue, exploring the age old Why should I be just? What is a just society, and how can it be created? ACCESSIBLE. AUTHORITATIVE. TIMELY. Written by distinguished philosopher and professor Angie Hobbs, Plato's Republic is the essential introduction to a text that helped shape all Western literature and philosophy.
- Why do humans form societies and what is needed for them to thrive?
- How can women's potential be actualized?
- How can we protect ourselves from demagogues and tyrants? IMMERSE yourself in the strikingly relevant questions of Plato's influential dialogue, exploring the age old Why should I be just? What is a just society, and how can it be created? ACCESSIBLE. AUTHORITATIVE. TIMELY. Written by distinguished philosopher and professor Angie Hobbs, Plato's Republic is the essential introduction to a text that helped shape all Western literature and philosophy.
56 pages, Hardcover
Published February 7, 2019
16 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 28, 2024
**"Plato's Republic: A Ladybird Expert Book" by Angie Hobbs** offers an accessible and engaging introduction to one of the most influential works of Western philosophy. Angie Hobbs, a renowned philosopher and expert on Plato, breaks down the complex ideas presented in "The Republic" into digestible parts, making them approachable for a general audience.
### Summary of Main Points:
#### Introduction to Plato and "The Republic":
- **Historical Context**: Hobbs provides background on Plato, his teacher Socrates, and the historical context of ancient Athens.
- **Purpose of the Dialogue**: "The Republic" explores justice, the ideal state, and the philosopher-king concept.
#### Structure of "The Republic":
- **Books I-V**: These books lay the groundwork, beginning with discussions on justice and the structure of the ideal state. Socrates and his interlocutors examine various definitions of justice and propose a tripartite class system: rulers (philosopher-kings), auxiliaries (warriors), and producers (farmers, artisans).
- **Books VI-VII**: The focus shifts to the philosopher-king and the theory of forms. Hobbs explains the Allegory of the Cave, illustrating Plato’s ideas about knowledge, reality, and enlightenment.
- **Books VIII-X**: These books analyze different forms of government, the decline of the ideal state, and the immortality of the soul.
#### Key Philosophical Concepts:
- **Theory of Forms**: Hobbs explains Plato’s belief in an unchanging realm of perfect forms or ideas, which are the true reality, as opposed to the flawed and temporary physical world.
- **Justice**: The central question of "The Republic" is what justice is and why it is desirable. Hobbs outlines Plato’s view that justice involves harmony between the different parts of the soul and the different classes of society.
- **The Tripartite Soul**: Plato's analogy of the soul with the three classes of the state, consisting of reason (rulers), spirit (auxiliaries), and appetite (producers), is clearly explained.
- **The Ideal State**: Hobbs discusses Plato's vision of a state governed by philosopher-kings, who are guided by reason and wisdom, ensuring the state's justice and stability.
#### Educational Theory:
- **Education of the Guardians**: Hobbs covers Plato’s educational proposals for the ruling class, which include rigorous training in philosophy, mathematics, and dialectics, aiming to prepare them for enlightened leadership.
- **The Allegory of the Cave**: A detailed explanation of this allegory highlights Plato’s views on education and enlightenment. It describes how individuals can move from ignorance to knowledge and the role of philosophers in guiding this process.
#### Critiques and Legacy:
- **Criticisms**: Hobbs addresses common critiques of Plato's ideas, such as the perceived authoritarian nature of his ideal state and the feasibility of the philosopher-king concept.
- **Influence**: The book concludes with an overview of the lasting impact of "The Republic" on Western philosophy, political theory, and education.
### Themes:
1. **Justice and Morality**: A central theme is the nature of justice, both in the individual and the state, and why it is preferable to injustice.
2. **Knowledge and Reality**: The distinction between the world of appearances and the world of forms is a key theme, emphasizing the philosopher’s pursuit of true knowledge.
3. **The Ideal Society**: Plato's vision of a perfectly just society and the role of education in achieving this ideal is a recurring theme.
### Writing Style:
- **Clear and Concise**: Hobbs’ writing is straightforward and accessible, making complex philosophical ideas understandable.
- **Engaging Examples**: The use of contemporary examples and analogies helps to illustrate Plato’s concepts.
- **Scholarly yet Accessible**: The book balances scholarly rigor with readability, making it suitable for both newcomers and those with some prior knowledge of philosophy.
**"Plato's Republic: A Ladybird Expert Book" by Angie Hobbs** is an excellent primer on Plato’s seminal work. It provides a clear and engaging introduction to the major themes and ideas of "The Republic," making it an ideal starting point for those interested in exploring one of the foundational texts of Western philosophy.
### Summary of Main Points:
#### Introduction to Plato and "The Republic":
- **Historical Context**: Hobbs provides background on Plato, his teacher Socrates, and the historical context of ancient Athens.
- **Purpose of the Dialogue**: "The Republic" explores justice, the ideal state, and the philosopher-king concept.
#### Structure of "The Republic":
- **Books I-V**: These books lay the groundwork, beginning with discussions on justice and the structure of the ideal state. Socrates and his interlocutors examine various definitions of justice and propose a tripartite class system: rulers (philosopher-kings), auxiliaries (warriors), and producers (farmers, artisans).
- **Books VI-VII**: The focus shifts to the philosopher-king and the theory of forms. Hobbs explains the Allegory of the Cave, illustrating Plato’s ideas about knowledge, reality, and enlightenment.
- **Books VIII-X**: These books analyze different forms of government, the decline of the ideal state, and the immortality of the soul.
#### Key Philosophical Concepts:
- **Theory of Forms**: Hobbs explains Plato’s belief in an unchanging realm of perfect forms or ideas, which are the true reality, as opposed to the flawed and temporary physical world.
- **Justice**: The central question of "The Republic" is what justice is and why it is desirable. Hobbs outlines Plato’s view that justice involves harmony between the different parts of the soul and the different classes of society.
- **The Tripartite Soul**: Plato's analogy of the soul with the three classes of the state, consisting of reason (rulers), spirit (auxiliaries), and appetite (producers), is clearly explained.
- **The Ideal State**: Hobbs discusses Plato's vision of a state governed by philosopher-kings, who are guided by reason and wisdom, ensuring the state's justice and stability.
#### Educational Theory:
- **Education of the Guardians**: Hobbs covers Plato’s educational proposals for the ruling class, which include rigorous training in philosophy, mathematics, and dialectics, aiming to prepare them for enlightened leadership.
- **The Allegory of the Cave**: A detailed explanation of this allegory highlights Plato’s views on education and enlightenment. It describes how individuals can move from ignorance to knowledge and the role of philosophers in guiding this process.
#### Critiques and Legacy:
- **Criticisms**: Hobbs addresses common critiques of Plato's ideas, such as the perceived authoritarian nature of his ideal state and the feasibility of the philosopher-king concept.
- **Influence**: The book concludes with an overview of the lasting impact of "The Republic" on Western philosophy, political theory, and education.
### Themes:
1. **Justice and Morality**: A central theme is the nature of justice, both in the individual and the state, and why it is preferable to injustice.
2. **Knowledge and Reality**: The distinction between the world of appearances and the world of forms is a key theme, emphasizing the philosopher’s pursuit of true knowledge.
3. **The Ideal Society**: Plato's vision of a perfectly just society and the role of education in achieving this ideal is a recurring theme.
### Writing Style:
- **Clear and Concise**: Hobbs’ writing is straightforward and accessible, making complex philosophical ideas understandable.
- **Engaging Examples**: The use of contemporary examples and analogies helps to illustrate Plato’s concepts.
- **Scholarly yet Accessible**: The book balances scholarly rigor with readability, making it suitable for both newcomers and those with some prior knowledge of philosophy.
**"Plato's Republic: A Ladybird Expert Book" by Angie Hobbs** is an excellent primer on Plato’s seminal work. It provides a clear and engaging introduction to the major themes and ideas of "The Republic," making it an ideal starting point for those interested in exploring one of the foundational texts of Western philosophy.
December 18, 2019
Cheat-Sheet for a Republic
This provides a seemingly convincing overview of Plato's Republic for the reader who hasn't yet read the work.
The questions of epistemology, morality, justice, and politics raised are every bit as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago. Surprisingly, Plato’s work has been used as inspiration by Karl Marx and Sigmund Freud in developing their nefarious belief systems, and the Simile of the Cave is the foundation for the Matrix Trilogy.
The above shows there truly is "nothing new under the sun."
This provides a seemingly convincing overview of Plato's Republic for the reader who hasn't yet read the work.
The questions of epistemology, morality, justice, and politics raised are every bit as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago. Surprisingly, Plato’s work has been used as inspiration by Karl Marx and Sigmund Freud in developing their nefarious belief systems, and the Simile of the Cave is the foundation for the Matrix Trilogy.
The above shows there truly is "nothing new under the sun."
July 10, 2019
This book was not written for a general audience. It is the work of a paper pusher. It is another paper to be pushed to some governmental commission for a greater pension plan paid by the unaware public.
November 24, 2023
Philosophy for the General Public
This was a concise yet profound synopsis of a challenging philosophy text. I felt it expounded the main areas of The Republic very clearly and hinted at its weaknesses. Perhaps Ladybird could publish on other key texts in a similar way.
This was a concise yet profound synopsis of a challenging philosophy text. I felt it expounded the main areas of The Republic very clearly and hinted at its weaknesses. Perhaps Ladybird could publish on other key texts in a similar way.
January 4, 2020
Very short but good introduction
October 22, 2021
Really useful for me to read - son studies Philosophy at Uni - dad tries to keep in the picture with useful précis from Angie Hobbs!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews