Polemarchus essentially recapitulates his father’s remarks in the previous friendly conversation: Justice, he says, is exemplified in “giving everyone what is due and proper to him.” But Socrates is adamant in his refusal of the validity of such a definition, and he returns to his analogy of the friend and […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book I: Section IISummary and Analysis Book I: Section I
Socrates then concludes that justice may be defined as telling the truth and paying one’s debts. But, he says, what if a friend in a reasonable state of mind were to lend you a sword or a knife and later, in a crazed state, should ask for the repayment of […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book I: Section ICharacter List
Cephalus A wealthy and retired old businessman, head of a business family. Socrates has known him a long time and admires him. Cephalus and Socrates initiate the dialogue, which begins with a casual friendly conversation. Cephalus’ significance in the dialogue is that he exemplifies the seasoned experienced man who, though […]
Read more Character ListAbout Plato’s Republic
It is Plato’s intent in this dialogue to establish, philosophically, the ideal state, a state that would stand as a model for all emerging or existing societies currently functioning during Plato’s time and extending into our own times. And we are to infer that any proposed changes in the policy […]
Read more About Plato’s RepublicBook Summary
The argument advanced in this dialogue, then, is an attempt to outline a possible and realistic policy for securing well-being and happy concord (the good life) for the citizens of the state: just citizens dwelling in a just state. The Republic, we are reminded, is translated from a dialogue first […]
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