The Republic and Other Works

by Plato, Benjamin Jowett (Translator)

A compilation of the essential works of Plato in  one paperback volume: The Republic, The  Symposium, Parmenides, Euthyphro, Apology,  Crito, and Phaedo.

Genres: Philosophy, Classics, Nonfiction, Politics, Religion, Collections, History

552 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1959

About the author

Plato (Greek: Πλάτων), born Aristocles (c. 427 – 348 BC), was an ancient Greek philosopher of the Classical period who is considered a foundational thinker in Western philosophy and an innovator of the written dialogue and dialectic forms. He raised problems for what became all the major areas of both theoretical philosophy and practical philosophy, and was the founder of the Platonic Academy, a philosophical school in Athens where Plato taught the doctrines that would later become known as Platonism.
Plato's most famous contribution is the theory of forms (or ideas), which has been interpreted as advancing a solution to what is now known as the problem of universals. He was decisively influenced by the pre-Socratic thinkers Pythagoras, Heraclitus, and Parmenides, although much of what is known about them is derived from Plato himself.
Along with his teacher Socrates, and Aristotle, his student, Plato is a central figure in the history of philosophy. Plato's entire body of work is believed to have survived intact for over 2,400 years—unlike that of nearly all of his contemporaries. Although their popularity has fluctuated, they have consistently been read and studied through the ages. Through Neoplatonism, he also greatly influenced both Christian and Islamic philosophy. In modern times, Alfred North Whitehead famously said: "the safest general characterization of the European philosophical tradition is that it consists of a series of footnotes to Plato."

Reviews

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a cave, and then there are philosopher kings and all the poets have been exiled because they are seriously dangerous to society. What else do you really need to know or to make you feel like you should be king if you're an undergrad philosophy major?

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come.
This is a complex book and requires a well thought out review.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is excellent!

I began reading this one in April and then put it down for several months as I was focusing on reading physical fiction books that I own and have just now got back to finishing this one.

This is a seminal work of philosophy!

Happy Reading, everybody!

[David Dent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, I actually read this some time ago. I read The Republic, The Symposium and started Parmenides, but then stopped. I did not continue on to finish Parmenides or move on to Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, or Phaedo, but was already familiar with summaries of those works from conversations, discussions, and the fairly common summary knowledge of the details of Socrates' death. The Republic is a great read for any political junkie and philosophy geek. It provides the true source of much of what the Founding Fathers of this country had at their intellectual fingertips as it was most assuredly part of their classical education. It is not an instruction set on how to set up a republic. But a deeper philosophical discussion about Justice, its pursuit and Plato lays out his main themes of his life's works in the concept of "Forms" and the famous "allegory of the cave". If you've heard these terms before, and nodded your head so you didn't look like a chretin, and want to know what the heck people are talking about, read The Republic.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Republic" and "The Symposium" are accompanied with the four dialogues dealing with the period of Socrates' trial and execution ("Euthyphro", "Apology", "Crito" and "Phaedo") making for a collection of what are probably Plato's most often read dialogues, and there's a reason for their popularity - their readability. Plato's philosophizing in these can range from the sublime to the ridiculous, but it's always an entertaining read.

I have to quibble with the decision to include "Parmenides", which in contrast to the others is a strain to read at best. It starts well enough, but evolves into an extended argument which the Wikipedia article on the dialogue calls the most challenging and bizarre thing Plato ever wrote, and I'll second that emotion. The collection would have been improved by leaving it out entirely.

[Liz West · Rating 3 out of 5]

REALLY DENSE.

My favourite was the republic. I’ve always loved utopias and exploring them and the ideas that come with them. Plato does a really good job of exploring everything and explaining reasoning behind it as well.

[Graeme Henneberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Foundational work of Western philosophy, Plato in three parts explores what justice is, whether it is better to be just or unjust and the nature of justice in relation to the soul.

While the initial positing of the question of justice against injustice struggles in the first two books, the exploration of its applications to an ideal State and the State's citizens aids the later comparison of states to each other and to individuals; especially as a source of political comparison. The closing arguments of the narrative take a mixed scope, offering arguments on the nature of acceptable artistic expression that harden back to those previously voiced in the discussion on education.

The style of dialogue can be a bit challenging to those used to more modern philosophical texts, but they allow the reader a better idea of how philosophy was practiced and interpreted in Amcient Greece. Another interesting decision is the inclusion of a cosmology (apparently related to Socrates/Plato by word of mouth) to elucidate on the soul's immortality and how justice and virtue benefit the individual after death.

In summation, an engaging read with incredibly broad scope that makes a first attempt at defining political motivations and actions.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Republic is great. The rest... eh. I get it as a useful tool for learning the Socratic Method for discourse, but it is so one sided in the discourse, where it's one person just saying "yes" or "no" in full sentences to each of Socrates's argument points. It just loses traction quickly and becomes a boring slog of an old man lecturing while pretending to have a rigorous discussion with another person.

[Fouad · Rating 5 out of 5]

The true Bible

[blythe · Rating 2 out of 5]

they all just enable him don't they. no offence to the philosophical people out there, but i hope I never have to read this or anything like it again...

[LeeAnn *the crazy, hell on wheels crip* · Rating 4 out of 5]

i found this book very interesting. the "conversational" type of writing was contained in the whole work. i really liked listening to it because it seemed to be easier to catch on. there were so many sub-topics about what Plato desired in His own State. each person would perform their trade as they were trained, there would be training for males - sports and academics. religions as well as sciences -

there was one part that blew my mind though, dealing with family! parents would not know or raise their own children! marriages would be arranged.

so much to this book, it takes complete concentration

[Pavel Panchekha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well worth reading—this is the foundational work of Western philosophy. Plato raises great questions on how to structure a State, on the correct constitution of a person, and on the various types of government and the people they reflect. That said, viewed as an actual philosophical tome, Plato's Republic often resorts to fanciful and flighty arguments. Reading Plato is a fascinating look into pre-Aristotilian logic, as arguments by analogy and grand claims stated and believed as fact are common. Neitzche's Beyond Good and Evil starts with a powerful critique of Platonism and its style of argument.

[Joshua Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jowett's translation was the first Plato I ever read and is still among my favorites (in the case of some dialogues, actually, still my favorite). The characters are sharply crafted as Jowett seemed to have a very clear sense of what Plato - a former playwright and poet - was trying to do in his philosophical dialogues: create the same sort of dramatic experience for an audience that theatre tried, and still tries, to do. We understand what Plato's trying to tell us by participating in the dialogue we're reading.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a very good reason that this book has survived the centuries, despite its abuses and neglects. It is not as many would expect: a dusty old volume on the brink of death. Rather, it is a living work that speaks directly concerning humanity in every culture and every time.
While much has changed in the world since this writing's conception, human nature has not, nor have the institutions which humanity builds.
This of Plato's works MUST be fed to the next generation, administered as a staple in the common literary diet. No education is complete without it.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shea and I read books 6 and 7 of the Republic together as a part of our history of ethics study. As I remembered from my last read, The Republic was readable and interesting, but not useful for understanding the world, as it didn't seem based on any observations. I was reminded of how Platonic Christianity is (and it was fun to talk to Shea--who was raised a secular Jew--about this), and I did get some insight into some behavior I've witnessed. Overall fun, but not all that useful.

[The_red_one · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the basis for the government of the Catholic church and sets up a model of framework for communist governance

[Gabriel Conroy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This translation is quite readable, although Socrates' poor interlocutors hardly ever seem to be able to get a word in edgewise in these so-called "dialogues."

[Kelly]

Lent to ACP.

[Daniel Mattox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Socrates the noblest of men. A journey in philosophy and the spirit of humanity. Alas, Socrates. The world is at a loss.

[Christøpher Es · Rating 4 out of 5]

BOOoooorrrriiing.

[JR Snow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a slightly different edition of platos works. I had to read most of this for my Ancient Philosophy Class at RBC

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Justice wins! The results are in. Socrates successfully argues that the just life is better and happier than the unjust one.

[Garrett McMahon · Rating 4 out of 5]

sillybillies

[Jackson Switzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the Apology, Crito, Phaedo, Republic, and Symposium, not (yet) Parmenides or Euthyphro.