The Republic

Good Book - BAD Translation!

I got this book originally and immediately had problems discerning what the author was trying to tell us. My philosophy professor also told me about problems many people who study Plato's Republic have with this particular translator. I changed it to another translation and found the book so much easier to read and understand. I would never recommend this particular translation

8 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

a cornerstone of western philosophy

do not be fooled! this book was (and still is) ages ahead of its time. there is no merely 'suspecting' that you understand this book. when you 'get it' you will 'know.' try to find an accurate translation and not one which is 'more culturally relevant today' - the idea that the Republic can be made 'culturally relevant' is all the more ridiculous considering that its implications are virtually eternal (and were meant to be). Socrates asks a lot of simple but very penetrating questions. a common and fatal error in contemporary Platonic scholarship (but even in the past) is the answering of each question (quickly) singly and missing the big picture. regardless of the historical existence of the philosophical Socrates or the historical occurence of the dialogues in the Republic, the account Plato has recorded for us in his book is among the most exact analyses of the human condition ever committed to paper. the vocabulary is not difficult, but some of the concepts will require close attention. it's better to read this book when you have some time to commit.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

BAD BAD BAD Grammar

This book has had the worst grammar from the beginning. Capitalization off and so is puctuation. Get a different copy. Don't ruin a good story over bad grammar.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Life changing

I read this book thinking I needed to brush up on my philosophical and political history. What ended up taking place was a mind sweeping revelation that penetrated my soul. I am 26 years old and at a point in life where I seem to have many regrets, and am not certain about who I am, or where I'm going. This book penetrates the very heart of these issues and, if you allow it, can open your mind to real purpose. Oh, it has some nice government pointers too. :-) Other notes: This translation is wonderful, very easy to follow syntactically. Interesting footnotes are not overly abrasive. Just read it. There's a message in this book for everyone.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A well written and thought provoking book

In 'The Republic', Plato attempts to outline an ideal society based on justice. The governemnt he suggests, however, is merely the backdrop for answering vital questions about human nature. Plato tries to define justice as well as philosophers, and argues that the just man is happier tha the unjust man. I highly recommend this book.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Re-Public Rules!

The whole idea, the vast concepts of a public before publicity existed, the interpretation of preparing a public to function in its 're' status, and allowing women to vote... this is a must read.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

THE OK BOOK

I think the book it's ok, but i do suggest to read because it tells about all the governments and the one he thinks its the best. But I think the most important is that it makes you think and makes you analyzed about things about today and about your life its you opinion if u dont like it but i think you just didn't put too much attention or really dont like books at all.

1 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Needful reading

This book is both boring and tedious to read. However, Plato's Republic is essential for all historians and political scientists. In the Republic, Plato exlpains the effective use of the NOBLE LIE. The Republic is not a book to create a government from, but a book to explain government.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Decent Translation

While the Republic is a great book to read, this translation tends to get confusing at times. I would not reccomend it for first year students or casual readers. Other translations, such as the Bloom translation, are written in a more intelligible style.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

what is wrong with the typeset?

free versions elsewhere are better

Annoying format

There is no proper table of contents so you have to manually page through tons of pages before arriving at the appropriate place.

Didnt+work

This+version+did+not+work+on+my+nook

Could not Read

I couldn't read this version.

Good, but perhaps spend a bit more on a better version

The book itself is good and this particular version is competitively priced, but just be aware that if you're buying this for a class, it has no becker numbers in the margins which make it a pain in the butt when the whole class isn't using the same book.

A reviewer

The Republic is a Middle-Period dialogue written by Plato. This means that Socrates acts more like a mouth-piece to champion Plato's philosophy then as the actual historic Socrates. Here, Plato considers many aspects of political and social philosophy including censorship, city structure, educational systems, and women's role in society. But these interesting themes serve only to help us answer the questions of what is justice and why it is always better to be just than injust. Also, Plato throws in his theory of forms into the deal! This is an incredible book that can serve as a means for discussion and pondering for several readings.

Thoughr-Provoking

It's amazing how enjoyable this is and how easy it is to read for someone who does not have a lot of background in philosophy.

Good but not great

During his era, Socrates was held as prudent considering his many followers after him (i.e. Plato and Aristotle). However, his interlocutions display a pattern of dismay that many psychologists this day would have charge him for impiety as well! He was a man that was taken way too seriously and should only be credited for having open the minds of many closed minded individuals of that time. The fact that he chooses to defend philosophy but not his own life is indeed a great paradox.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Must Read

I really enjoyed this book to the fullest. I have read The Republic by other translators and i must admit that Allan Blooms translation of The Republic is by far better than this one. However, the content of the book is great.

All Western Philosophy Comes From Here

This is quite possibly the greatest thing ever put down on paper. Not a book in a true sense (it is actually a dialouge, something that can be looked at as a play almost) it delves into nearly all philosophical ideas brought forth by modern thinkers. Machieavelle, Aquinas, Rosseau- all of their ideologies stem from here. For the uninitiated: 1) Prepare to be surprised. Socrates, besides being brilliant, can also be a funny yet sarcastic a-hole. 2) Don't expect to learn how to live your life from this book. DO expect to get very frustrated. It can be guarenteed that if you take this seriously, your outlook on life will change. Yes, I can guarntee it. Just question yourself. Socrates is shown here to be the greatest lawyer of all time. Get it, learn, live it!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Much about nothing

I don't know if it was the book or just Jowett's translation, but this thing was a chore to read. Only a few sentences made anything click in my head that was worth the while to think about. Yes, this book is a foundation for a lot of other works, but not very interesting in itself. Instead of reading it, just ask questions to yourself and use your own brain.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.