Plato's 'Republic'

Plato's Republic has proven to be of astounding influence and importance. Justly celebrated as Plato's central text, it brings together all of his prior works, unifying them into a comprehensive vision that is at once theological, philosophical, political and moral. The essays in this volume provide a picture of the most interesting aspects of the Republic, and address questions that continue to puzzle and provoke, such as: Does Plato succeed in his argument that the life of justice is the most attractive one? Is his tripartite analysis of the soul coherent and plausible? Why does Plato seem to have to force his philosopher-guardians to rule when they know this is something that they ought to do? What is the point of the strange and complicated closing Myth of Er? This volume will be essential to those looking for thoughtful and detailed excursions into the problems posed by Plato's text and ideas.

Mark L. McPherran is Professor of Philosophy at Simon Fraser University. He is the author of The Religion of Socrates (1996) and of numerous articles on ancient philosophy.

Introduction Mark L. McPherran; 1. Socrates in the Republic G. R. F. Ferrari; 2. Platonic ring-composition and Republic X Rachel Barney; 3. The Atlantis story: the Republic and the Timaeus Julia Annas; 4. Ethics and politics in Socrates' defense of justice Rachana Kamtekar; 5. Plato's divided soul Christopher Shields; 6. The meaning of 'saphêneia' in Plato's divided line J. H. Lesher; 7. Plato's philosophical method in the Republic: the divided line (510b-511d) Hugh H. Benson; 8. Blindness and reorientation: education and the acquisition of knowledge in the Republic C. D. C. Reeve; 9. Music all pow'rful Malcolm Schofield; 10. Return to the cave Nicholas D. Smith; 11. Degenerate regimes in Plato's Republic Zena Hitz; 12. Virtue, luck, and choice at the end of the Republic Mark L. McPherran; Bibliography; Index of passages; Index of names and subjects.