PLATO: THE REPUBLIC

CHARACTER	Characterization
SOCRATES	Athenian citizen, stone-mason, semi-professional twit.
GLAUKON	rich young man, brother of Plato
ADEIMANTOS	rich young man, brother of Plato
THRASYMACHOS	a Sophist, from Chalcedon, who demands payment for knowledge and truth
POLEMARCHOS	son of Cephalos, brother of Lysias the Orator; killed in 403 B.C. by the 30 Tyrants (among whom were Plato's cousin Kritias and his uncle Charmides) [See the surviving speech delivered by Lysias, Against Eratosthenes].
CEPHALOS	of Syracuse. Father of Polemarchos and of Lysias the Orator. A rich metic and weapons industrialist.
Others:	Charmantides, Euthydemos, Kleitophon, Lysias, Nikeratos

DRAMATIC DATE
uncertain
Cephalos was old (he actually died in 430). Polemarchos died in 403. Plato was born in 427. That Plato's brothers are young men puts practical limitations on how far before or into the Archidamian War the dialogue could be placed.

BOOK	CONTENT	REFERENCES
BOOK I	DEFINING JUSTICE Speaking the truth and paying your debts Helping friends and harming enemies Stronger and Weaker the 'ruler' leadershipand craftsmanship a speech about 'justice' why people want to rule The profitability of 'injustice'	327b–331d 331e–336a 336b–347e 347e–354c
BOOK II	THE NATURE OF JUSTICE AND 'THE GOOD' Which things are 'just'? (Glaukon) things good in themselves? things good and profitable? things painful but good? Origins of the State, and its needs The Guardians, and their education	357a–367e 367e–374d 374e–383c
BOOK III	THE BASIC EDUCATION OF THE GUARDIANS Tragedy and comedy Censorship and limitation Literature, music, art, and character, gymnastics: aim is harmony Physical training for soldiers (Addiction to physicians and law courts)	392c–398b 398c–400c 400c–403c 403c–412b
BOOK IV	SELECTION OF RULERS Allegory of metals Abolition of private property; communal living The CARDINAL VIRTUES of the State: philosopher-kings: WISDOM (gold) soldiers: COURAGE (silver) farmers-artisans: TEMPERANCE (bronze-iron) Justice exists when each class carries out its own function with harmony. Virtue in the individual: Each part of the soul should practice its own virute in harmony: reason–wisdom–rule good emotion–courage–obedience base emotion –temperance & control –subordination Equality of women	412c–421c 421c–427c 427c–434d 441c–445b 445b–457b
BOOK V	Communal living of the Ruling Class The city in war Philosophers as kings The Theory of Forms	457b–466d 466d–471e 472a–476a 476b–480a
BOOK VI	THE PHILOSOPHER-KING True philosophers Not so good philosophers Can Philosopher-kings exist? The Idea of the Good The Myth of the Divided Line	484a–487a 487b–497a 497a–502c 502d–509c 509d–511c
BOOK VII	THE EDUCATION OF THE GUARDIANS The Allegory of The Cave The six steps in education	514a–541b 514a–521b 535a-541b
BOOK VIII	SOULS AND SOCIETIES (The degenerate soul) Timocracies Oligarchies Democracies Tyrannies	543a–569c 543a–550c 550c–555b 555b–562a 562a–569c
BOOK IX	The Book of the Tyrant The character of the tyrannical man 'justice' = 'happiness' 'justice' = 'profitable'	571a–592b 571a–576b 588b–592b
BOOK X	LITERATURE AND IMMORTALITY Poetry is the enemy Justice: The Rewards	595a–621d 595a–608b 608c–621d

READING
George Klosko, Plato's Political Theory (Methuen/University Paperbacks 1986). J. Gosling, Plato, pp. 52-71 ('Reason and Goodness') R. Robinson, Plato's Earlier Dialectic (1953), pp. 180-201 ('The Line and The Cave') K. Popper, The Open Society and its Enemies I. Plato (1966), pp. 86-119 ('Totalitarian Justice') J. Annas, An Introduction to Plato's Republic (Oxford 1981). R. C. Cross and A. Woosley, Plato's Republic: A Philosophical Commentary (London 1964). N. R. Murray, An Interpretation of Plato's Republic (Oxford 1951). N. White, A Companion to Plato's Republic (Indianapolis 1979). Werner Jaeger, Paideia 3 volumes (Oxford).

READING

George Klosko, Plato's Political Theory (Methuen/University Paperbacks 1986).
J. Gosling, Plato, pp. 52-71 ('Reason and Goodness')
R. Robinson, Plato's Earlier Dialectic (1953), pp. 180-201 ('The Line and The Cave')
K. Popper, The Open Society and its Enemies I. Plato (1966), pp. 86-119 ('Totalitarian Justice')
J. Annas, An Introduction to Plato's Republic (Oxford 1981).
R. C. Cross and A. Woosley, Plato's Republic: A Philosophical Commentary (London 1964).
N. R. Murray, An Interpretation of Plato's Republic (Oxford 1951).
N. White, A Companion to Plato's Republic (Indianapolis 1979).
Werner Jaeger, Paideia 3 volumes (Oxford).

7/17/2003

January 26, 2010 8:50 AM

John Paul Adams, CSUN
john.p.adams@csun.edu

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