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Overview

Republic, by Plato, is part of the Barnes & Noble Classics series, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of Barnes & Noble Classics:

  • New introductions commissioned from today's top writers and scholars
  • Biographies of the authors
  • Chronologies of contemporary historical, biographical, and cultural events
  • Footnotes and endnotes
  • Selective discussions of imitations, parodies, poems, books, plays, paintings, operas, statuary, and films inspired by the work
  • Comments by other famous authors
  • Study questions to challenge the reader's viewpoints and expectations
  • Bibliographies for further reading
  • Indices & Glossaries, when appropriate
All editions are beautifully designed and are printed to superior specifications; some include illustrations of historical interest. Barnes & Noble Classics pulls together a constellation of influences—biographical, historical, and literary—to enrich each reader's understanding of these enduring works.

One of the greatest works of philosophy, political theory, and literature ever produced, Plato’s Republic has shaped Western thought for thousands of years, and remains as relevant today as when it was written during the fourth century B.C.

Republic begins by posing a central question: "What is justice, and why should we be just, especially when the wicked often seem happier and more successful?" For Plato, the answer lies with the ways people, groups, and institutions organize and behave. A brilliant inquiry into the problems of constructing the perfect state, and the roles education, the arts, family, and religion should play in our lives, Republic employs picturesque settings, sharply outlined characters, and conversational dialogue to drive home the philosopher’s often provocative arguments.

It has been said that the entire history of Western philosophy consists of nothing more than "a series of footnotes to Plato." Vastly entertaining, occasionally shocking, and always stimulating, Republic continues to enrich and expand the outlook of all who read it.

Elizabeth Watson Scharffenberger holds degrees from the University of Chicago and Columbia University. A specialist in the culture and literature of Athens during the fifth and fourth centuries B.C., she teaches at Columbia University and New York University’s Gallatin School.

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781593080976
  • Publisher: Barnes & Noble
  • Publication date: 7/1/2004
  • Pages: 496
  • Sales rank: 62,606
  • Lexile: 1370L (what's this?)
  • Series: Barnes & Noble Classics Series
  • Product dimensions: 5.25 (w) x 8.00 (h) x 1.24 (d)

Meet the Author

Elizabeth Watson Scharffenberger holds degrees from the University of Chicago and Columbia University. A specialist in the culture and literature of Athens during the fifth and fourth centuries B.C., she teaches at Columbia University and New York University’s Gallatin School.

Read an Excerpt

From Elizabeth Watson Scharffenberger’s Introduction to Republic

The conversation in Republic begins simply enough. Socrates, who has plainly been on familiar terms with Polemarchus’ family for a long time, forthrightly asks Cephalus about old age. His response, that aging is not as difficult as it is often reported to be, prompts Socrates to wonder out loud whether Cephalus’ easygoing attitude is in part facilitated by his wealth. The old man’s response is affirmative. The wealthy, he asserts, face death without fear; their resources enable them to satisfy their debts to gods and men and also to avoid lying and cheating, and thus they can die with the confidence that they will not be punished in the afterlife. These remarks are what precipitate the discussion of just behavior and moral conduct, which Socrates introduces as he asks his elderly friend whether “justice” (dikaiosynê) simply consists of paying debts and telling the truth. Cephalus politely bows out of the conversation, leaving his son Polemarchus to argue that justice—meaning “right behavior” in general—does indeed consist of paying debts and giving “what is due,” as poets such as Simonides claim. Socrates, however, quickly leads Polemarchus to realize that there are serious logical problems with this traditional conception of justice, in which “what is due” is defined in terms of “help” to “friends” and “harm” to “enemies,” and the young man is left perplexed.

At this point, Thrasymachus leaps into the discussion, asserting that justice is simply “the advantage of the stronger,” by which he clearly means that “justice” is relative—that is, “right behavior” is whatever those in power determine it to be. With a series of questions that recall those he just posed to Polemarchus, Socrates uncovers logical problems in Thrasymachus’ definition as well. Thrasymachus, however, does not give up. Exploding in frustration at Socrates’ naive assumptions about the responsibilities that the powerful bear to those who are under their control, he reformulates his ideas with a bold new emphasis evocative of Antiphon’s thinking in “On Truth.” “Justice”—that is, the circumspect avoidance of doing “wrong” to others and obedience to social rules—is doing what is advantageous to another, who is stronger and more powerful than oneself. “Injustice,” on the other hand, is doing what is to one’s own advantage by taking what one wants regardless of social rules and by aggrandizing oneself at the expense of others. It is what leads to “happiness,” provided that one is not penalized for one’s exploitations. Tyrants who kill and confiscate and rape at will, according to Thrasymachus, are the happiest men of all.

Although Socrates is able to poke holes through the logic of this new formulation with questions that hark back once again to those he has already posed, Thrasymachus’ sulky concessions leave him unconvinced that he has made an effective case for the connection between justice, which through all has not been adequately defined, and “happiness.” Nor are Glaucon and Adeimantus convinced, and it is their persistence at the beginning of book 2 that launches the more systematic and extensive inquiry into the nature of justice and its relationship to happiness that occupies the rest of Republic. In particular, the brothers ask Socrates to explain how justice is in itself the source of happiness, regardless of whether it is recognized and rewarded, and how the just man can be happy, regardless of his material circumstances.

The challenges of defining justice and understanding its effects on long-term happiness, fulfillment, and well-being—all of which are conveyed by the Greek word eudaimonia—lead to the discussion of the ideal city-state, which is posited as a large-scale vehicle for apprehending the operations of justice in the individual. Socrates, Glaucon, and Adeimantus spend a good deal of time and energy discussing how the ideal state will be organized, and how its classes of warriors and leaders will be selected, educated, and provided for; they are especially concerned in books 2 and 3 with the training and acculturation of guardian children, whose exposure to poetry (Iliad and Odyssey in particular) is to be severely curtailed lest they learn harmful values and patterns of behavior.

Yet the three never lose sight of the goals of their examination. By the end of book 4, they arrive at a working (and, in several regards, striking) definition of justice as the condition, or state of being, in which each person in the community—and each element of the individual human soul (psyche)—minds his/her/its own business and does his/her/its own “work.” Since it has been determined that there is in the human soul, as in human society, a natural ruling element, justice is thus equated with the unencumbered rule of these elements: the “gold” class of guardians in the ideal state, which holds sway over the silver and bronze/iron classes, and, in the individual, the rational part of the soul that ought to be master of both “spirit” and appetites.

Customer Reviews
Average Rating 3.5
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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 4, 2008

    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.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 4, 2007

    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.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 5, 2009

    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.

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  • Posted November 25, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    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.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 23, 2005

    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.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 5, 2005

    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.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 13, 2005

    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.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 10, 2004

    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.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 13, 2002

    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.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 3, 2012

    what is wrong with the typeset?

    free versions elsewhere are better

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  • Anonymous

    Posted September 11, 2011

    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.

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  • Posted June 14, 2011

    Didnt+work

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

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 20, 2011

    Could not Read

    I couldn't read this version.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 18, 2009

    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.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 8, 2007

    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.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 23, 2007

    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.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 5, 2006

    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.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 11, 2005

    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.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 13, 2004

    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.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 29, 2003

    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.

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