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The Republic of Plato

by Plato (-428–-348)

  • Free to read
  • 17 hours to read
  • 16 chapters
  • Reading level: 8th & 9th grade

"The Republic of Plato" by Plato is a Socratic dialogue written around 375 BC. In this foundational work of philosophy and political theory, Socrates debates the nature of justice with Athenians and foreigners, asking whether the just person is happier than the unjust. The discussion ranges from definitions of justice to the design of an ideal city-state ruled by philosopher-kings, exploring aging, love, the soul's immortality, and poetry's role in society along the way.

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

Read the opening

Book I: Persons of the Dialogue

Socrates, who is the narrator. Cephalus.
Glaucon. Thrasymachus.
Adeimantus. Cleitophon.
Polemarchus.

The scene is laid in the house of Cephalus at the Piraeus; and the whole dialogue is narrated by Socrates the day after it actually took place to Timaeus, Hermocrates, Critias, and a nameless person, who are introduced in the Timaeus.

*Ed. Steph. 327* [Sidenote: Republic I. Socrates, Glaucon. Meeting of Socrates and Glaucon with Polemarchus at the Bendidean festival.]

I went down yesterday to the Piraeus with Glaucon the son of Ariston, that I might offer up my prayers to the goddess[1]; 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. *327B* 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.

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Contents

  1. Preface
  2. Book I: Persons of the Dialogue
  3. Book II: [Sidenote: Republic II. Socrates, Glaucon.]
  4. Book III: [Sidenote: Republic III. Socrates, Adeimantus.]
  5. Book IV: [Sidenote: Republic IV. Adeimantus, Socrates.]
  6. Book V: [Sidenote: Republic V. Socrates, Glaucon, Adeimantus.]
  7. Book VI: [Sidenote: Republic VI. Socrates, Glaucon.]
  8. Book VII: [Sidenote: Republic VII. Socrates, Glaucon.]
  9. Book VIII: [Sidenote: Republic VIII. Socrates, Glaucon.]
  10. Book IX: [Sidenote: Republic IX. Socrates, Adeimantus.]
  11. Book X: [Sidenote: Republic X. Socrates, Glaucon.]
  12. Book X: [Sidenote: Republic X. Socrates, Glaucon.]
  13. Chapter C
  14. Chapter I: Iambic measure, 3. 400 C
  15. Chapter L
  16. Chapter V: Valetudinarianism, 3. 406; 4. 426 A
  17. Chapter X

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About this edition

This free edition of The Republic of Plato by Plato comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #55201, released 2017-07-26. 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.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

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