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Amazon.com: 5.0 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews)

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It will profoundly affect you, Feb 26 2009

By Just Anonymous - Published on Amazon.com

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This review is from: The Republic (Hardcover)

I find that Plato's Republic is not something you read but rather something you study. I read the book decades ago and over the years I keep coming back to it, particularly whenever I hear a lecture on Plato from a professor of philosophy and as you learn, you uncover more and more meaning to the work.

Overall, the book is foundational to Western Philosophy and I think it needs to be required reading for everyong shooting for a bachelor's degree. If you've finished college and you haven't had at least an introduction to Plato, you've been cheated and in that case I recommend you go back and get the book and read it.

Overall, the book is about Socrates sitting by the ocean on some Greek Island with some friends discussing how they'd build a perfect society and republic. They wind up throwing concepts around back and forth and as they do you get introduced to rhetoric, republican government, guardians, and all kinds of concepts like that which are pivotal to republics throughout the world. There are several key metaphors that come from Plato's Republic like the parable of the cave and the ship of state which serve to illustrate some challenges that Republics face.

In my experience, Plato's republic is monumental, especially given that it was written 2,500 years ago and since it forms one of the most solid foundations for Western Governments.

Depending on whether you're studying Philosophy or Government, your study of Plato's Republic might lead you in different directions. I found myself going down both the government and philosophy roads. From a government standpoint, I then went to some of the French philosophers like Richlieau, Rousseau, and Tocoqueville, and Italians like Machiavelli, and then to Locke and Hobbs and onto the Federalist Papers etc. From a philosophy standpoint I went down a more winding path of philosophers to Emerson, Thoreau, and then I found Derrida - definitely recommend Derrida (got to hand it to ourfriends the French on that one). My learning is not perfect and I still have a long way to go but I find that Plato sits at the foundation (is it perfect, no, but WOW it gets you thinking)

All in all Plato is must read if you care about the government we live in. This edition is a great one to put on a shelf. It is quite sturdy, I've given a couple of these away, and I recommend it as something to fill a shelf. I do own several editions, this one is overally good and readable.

If you're thinking about going down this path of reading the Greeks, I msut warn you that if you take your endeavor seriously, it will change your life. I also highly recommend a class on Plato or at least some lectures on Plato from a professional to help prime the pump. Once you get started though - it will profoundly affect you.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Guide for Every Statesman, April 15 2005

By PR Alex "Roma Victor" - Published on Amazon.com

This review is from: The Republic (Hardcover)

Plato's Republic is often quoted as one of the finest examples of philosophical thought of the western world. Written through the eyes of Socrates, Plato takes the reader into a world were debates are raged over such topics as justice, war, marriage, and the way a state should be ran. Plato holds accountable all theories presented, and each discussion is abundant with the Socratic way of teaching ... the best way to argue. It's a phenomenal book, a great read, and a great way to help one answer life's little mysteries in your own way. This book instills in its reader a sense of personal responsibility for his/her thoughts and philosophies, and gives him/her a new tool to aid him/her in discovering the true answers. If you're looking for a career in politics, the military, law, history, or just love to learn new ways, then Plato's Republic is the best thing since Coke. Just watch out the syntax and take it slow.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read, Feb 9 2012

By EZE - Published on Amazon.com

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This review is from: The Republic (Hardcover)

"The Republic" is another book on my list of must read for anyone in college. Perhaps I'm aiming a bit high but I believe this book could usefully be introduced to high school students. In it we find Plato through Socrates discussing the perfect society and reasoning his way through why things should be the way he suggests.

They cover nearly every aspect of society, from the Philosopher Kings who should rule society, the guardians, and the artisans. Different forms of government are compared and discussed. Marriage, the soul, justice, poetry, etc.

It's an important book considering that it's philosophy is the foundation for the way the western world presently thinks/functions. It's something worth studying and discussing as it will definitely bring about many interesting conversations.

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