TheRepublic------TheRepublicisaSocraticdialoguewrittenbyPlatoaround380BCconcerningthedefinitionofjusticeandtheorderandcharacterofthejustcity-stateandthejustman.ItisPlatosbest-knownworkandhasproventobeoneofthemostintellectuallyandhistoricallyinfluentialworksofphilosophyandpoliticaltheory.
Contentsthemeaningofjusticeissueofwhetherornotthejustmanishappierthantheunjustman;thenatureofexistingregimes.★Therolesinthebookalsodiscussthetheoryofforms,theimmortalityofthesoul,andtherolesofthephilosopherinsociety.
TopicsDefinitionofJustice:(AttheendofBookI)Justiceincludeshelpingfriends,butsaysthejustmanwouldneverdoharmtoanybody.(AtthebeginningofBookII)PlatostwobrotherschallengeSocratestodefinejusticeintheman.
Socratespointsofviewonjustice:Hedefinesjusticeasworkingatthatwhichheisnaturallybestsuited,andtodoonesownbusinessandnottobeabusybody“,andjusticeisthecauseandconditionoftheirexistence.Heseparatespeopleintothreetypes:soldier,producer,ruler.Justiceistheresultofawellorderedsoul.
Humantendencytobecorruptedbypowerleadsdowntheroadtotimocracy,oligarchy,democracyandtyranny.
(InBooksV-VI)theabolitionofrichesamongtheguardianclass(notunlikeMaxWebersbureaucracy)leadscontroversiallytotheabandonmentofthetypicalfamily.(InBooksVII-X)supportofPlatoscriticismoftheformsofgovernment.(timocracy,oligarchy,democracyandtyranny)
TheoryofUniversalsAllegoryofthecavewithwhichheexplainshisconceptofTheFormstoanswertheproblemofuniversals.DepictingPlatosdistinctionbetweentheworldofappearancesandtherealworldoftheForms.TheGoodcanbethoughtofastheformofForms.
TheDialecticalFormsofGovernmenttimocracyoligarchy(alsocalledplutocracy)democracytyranny(alsocalleddespotis