The Republic

Plato's Republic is a landmark work of Western philosophy and literature. At its core is an extended argument on the nature of justice, with Socrates asking what makes a city well-ordered and what is the nature of justice. Plato builds an elaborate picture of the ideal city-state, discusses the role of education, arts, and mathematics, and explores the nature of the soul. The Republic also contains Plato's most famous allegory, the Allegory of the Cave, which illuminates his theory of knowledge. This Penguin Classics edition presents Desmond Lee's celebrated translation, with an introduction by Melissa Lane.