Summary of Plato's The Republic

By IRB Media

Get the Summary of Plato's The Republic in 20 minutes. Please note: This is a summary & not the original book. Original book introduction: Plato's Republic is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential works in the history of philosophy. Presented in the form of a dialogue between Socrates and three different interlocutors, it is an inquiry into the notion of a perfect community and the ideal individual within it. During the conversation other questions are raised: what is goodness; what is reality; what is knowledge; what is the purpose of education? With remarkable lucidity and deft use of allegory, Plato arrives at a depiction of a state bound by harmony and ruled by 'philosopher kings'.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRB Media
• Release date: Dec 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9781669342113

IRB Media

With IRB books, you can get the key takeaways and analysis of a book in 15 minutes. We read every chapter, identify the key takeaways and analyze them for your convenience.

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Insights on Plato's The Republic

Contents

Insights from Chapter 1

Insights from Chapter 2

Insights from Chapter 3

Insights from Chapter 4

Insights from Chapter 5

Insights from Chapter 6

Insights from Chapter 7

Insights from Chapter 8

Insights from Chapter 9

Insights from Chapter 10

Insights from Chapter 1

#1

The festival of the Thesmophoriazusae was very popular, and Athens would celebrate it with a procession of maidens. However, the Thracians had a even more beautiful celebration.

#2

The men rose early and set out for the city. They met up with Polemarchus, who invited them to a festival that would be held that night in honor of the goddess Cybele.

#3

The author met Polemarchus, one of the most outspoken critics of Socrates, at his house.

#4

The author met a man named Cephalus, who was quite wealthy. Cephalus enjoyed talking about his wealth, and how it had been acquired.

#5

Cephalus and Polemarchus agreed that justice was not a set of commandments, but a set of virtues.

#6

Justice is the giving of good to friends and evil to enemies. In time of peace, this implies contracts. And in making contracts, you mean partnerships. Then, according to Polemarchus, the just man is a better partner than the skilled draughts player.

#7

The just man is good at keeping money, which makes him a good thief.

#8

Thrasymachus, the son of a king, was known for his arrogance and pride. He was also known for his temper and his desire to argue. In this conversation, he instigates a fight with Socrates and Polemarchus.

#9

Socrates continued his cross-examinations of the two men, Thrasymachus and Polemarchus, until he reached the point where they were seeking for justice. He then interjected and said that they were not doing their job properly, as they should be asking people what justice is, not what they deserve.

#10

The definition of justice by Thrasymachus is the interest of the stronger. In response, Socrates argues that justice is the interest of the stronger, but it can only be understood in the context of each respective society.

#11

Justice, in the eyes of the Theodectae, is the obedience that the subject shows to the commands of the stronger. But what if the commands of the stronger are to their own detriment. Is there such a thing as justice