Rational – Represents the truth-seeking, philosophical inclination.This discussion dominates Books II – IV.Įvery person has a soul of three parts, mirroring the three classes in society. These groups must stick to their specific roles – Auxiliaries must implement the will of the Guardians, and the Producers must confine themselves to their work.

Guardians – Rulers, the political classĪ just society depends on a harmonious relationship between these 3 types of people.The claim is that justice is whatever is in the interest of the strong, an interpretation which Socrates explains would lead to disharmony and general unhappiness.ĭan chats to Dr Helen Farr about how the Black Sea’s anaerobic waters have preserved ancient ships for many centuries, including a Greek ship very similar to one on an urn in the British Library Listen Now Types of peopleĪccording to Plato, the world contains 3 types of people:

It starts out as a dialogue between Socrates several young men on the nature of justice. Written after the Peloponnesian War, The Republic reflected Plato’s perception of politics as a dirty business that sought mainly to manipulate the unthinking masses. His ideas on, for example, the nature and value of justice, and the relationship between justice and politics, have been extraordinarily influential. Plato was the first Western philosopher to apply philosophy to politics. Plato’s solution is a definition of justice that appeals to human psychology rather than supposed behaviour. The society described would be more accurately termed a polity. Confusingly, The Republic is not about a republic. Written in 380 BC, The Republic essentially consists of Socrates discussing the meaning and nature of justice with various men, speculating how different hypothetical cities, underpinned by different forms of justice, would fare. Plato’s Republic is a Socratic dialogue concerning justice in the context of examining the character of the just man and the order of a just polity.

The republic plato book