Ray Childs

The Republic, is written by Plato, the ancient Greek philosopher. It is renowned for its detailed description of political and ethical justice and its account of the organization of the ideal state. This seminal work is regarded as one of the most important dialogues. Unlike Socratic dialogues, the Republic reflects the positive views of Plato. Socrates was Plato's teacher and the former is the main character in most of latter's dialogues. The middle dialogues that are literary and philosophical contain sensitive portrayals of characters and their interactions. They display Plato's explorations of philosophy. Plato, in the Republic, undertakes to show what justice is and why it is in each person's best interest to be just. The political discussion is undertaken to aid the ethical one. The ideal state, according to Plato, comprises three social classes: rulers, guardians (or soldiers), and producers (farmers and craftsmen). The rulers, who are philosophers, pursue the good of the entire state on the basis of their knowledge of the form of the Good and the form of the Just.

The Republic is widely acknowledged as the cornerstone of Western philosophy. The Republic is a philosophical dialogue about the nature of justice and the order and character of the just city-state and the just individual. The dialogues, among Socrates and various Athenians and foreigners, discuss the meaning of justice, and examine whether or not the just man is happier than the unjust man, by proposing a society ruled by philosopher-kings and the guardians. A classic of relevance even in the modern world, by one of the foremost philosophers in classical Greece Republic is Plato's most famous work on the varying ideas and definitions of justice within the State and within man.