The Republic

The Republic is one of Plato’s most widely read Socratic dialogue. The text is a discussion between Socrates—as the central speaker—and a group of Athenian citizens. Through The Republic, Plato develops and expands on his views regarding justice and eudaimonia (happiness) while establishing his philosophy of an ideal state. The dialogue constructs the infamous city called Kallipolis, a city ruled by a ‘philosopher-king’. In the dialogue, the Athenians discuss the city-soul analogy; justice in the republic; political measures for a just city; the role of women in the just city; the role of philosophers and poets in the just city; and the soul. Divided into ten books, The Republic is seen as a tract on the importance of education for the citizens and the philosopher king. The dialogue is famous for its discussion around poets as imitators, and the need for poetry to be censored for a harmonious city.