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The Republic

by Plato (-428–-348)

  • Free to read
  • 14 hours to read
  • 11 chapters
  • Reading level: 8th & 9th grade

"The Republic" by Plato is a Socratic dialogue written around 375 BC. Through conversations between Socrates and various Athenians, the work explores the meaning of justice and whether the just person is happier than the unjust. Socrates examines existing forms of government and proposes an ideal city-state ruled by philosopher-kings. The dialogue ranges across profound questions: the nature of the soul, the role of poetry, love, aging, and the purpose of political power itself.

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  • Classical literature
  • Political science · Early works to 1800
  • Utopias · Early works to 1800
  • Justice · Early works to 1800

Read the opening

Book I

I went down yesterday to the Piraeus with Glaucon the son of Ariston, that I might offer up my prayers to the goddess (Bendis, the Thracian Artemis.); and also because I wanted to see in what manner they would celebrate the festival, which was a new thing. I was delighted with the procession of the inhabitants; but that of the Thracians was equally, if not more, beautiful. When we had finished our prayers and viewed the spectacle, we turned in the direction of the city; and at that instant Polemarchus the son of Cephalus chanced to catch sight of us from a distance as we were starting on our way home, and told his servant to run and bid us wait for him. The servant took hold of me by the cloak behind, and said: Polemarchus desires you to wait.

I turned round, and asked him where his master was.

There he is, said the youth, coming after you, if you will only wait.

Certainly we will, said Glaucon; and in a few minutes Polemarchus appeared, and with him Adeimantus, Glaucon’s brother, Niceratus the son of Nicias, and several others who had been at the procession.

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Contents

  1. Front Matter
  2. Book I
  3. Book II
  4. Book III
  5. Book IV
  6. Book V
  7. Book VI
  8. Book VII
  9. Book VIII
  10. Book IX
  11. Book X

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About this edition

This free edition of The Republic by Plato comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #1497, released 1998-10-01. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Classics of Literature, Philosophy & Ethics.

Other editions: eBook #150.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

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