The Republic (Dover Thrift Editions: Philosophy) Paperback – April 18, 2000

Yes, this edition has a long intro, but that intro is an argument by argument exegesis (explanation) of Plato's Republic withextensive quotes and commentary that lay clear its virtues and its flaws as seen from a modern perspective.The Republic is Plato's ideal society, but mustn't an ideal society be based on Justice? So first before we can realize anideal society, we must achieve justice (or an understanding of it). This is where Plato starts.Socrates, acting as Plato's mouthpiece, asks, "What is Justice." Each guest answers starting with the host who gives theweakest but most obvious answer: Justice is doing good to your friends and evil to your enemies. Socrates examines and dismantels each argument as they are presented. What if the person you think is a friend is not your friend? What if you friend lends you a gun - he then goes crazy and asks for the gun back. The arguments get stronger in succession till Mr. T. proposes that "Might makes right." The tyrant makes justice synonymous with their interests: I am the state and your country right or wrong.On the question of whether justice = happiness: (from the commentary),Let a man do his duty first without asking whether he will be happy or not, happiness willbe the inseparable accident which attends him. 'Seek ye first the kingdom of god andand his righteousness, and all thes things shall be added unto you.'Is the just person happy on the rack? Well, maybe not.If you wish to pay for a version with a nice index, feel free, but one of the other reveiws provides the chapter index location numbers. Now I admit I've only read to location 600, but when i've tried to read the Republic on my own it wassomewhat perplexing. For those genuses who only need Einsten's equations to feret out the meaning of relativity the introis superfluous, but to those like me whose intellignece is 'Shockingly limited' I recommend this edition, and the price isright. BTW I paid $$ for a Philosophy 101 course where this book was all we read and professor's lectures were substantially what is in this intro.Mike the K

I teach the Republic to High School students and have been using the translation by Griffith (Cambridge) for many years. For reasons I don't recall, I have thought Jowett's translation unreliable and so have avoided it. On a lark, I decided to reread The Republic in Jowett's translation and found it fantastic. I am not qualified to judge its accuracy of translation, as I only know the smallest amount of Greek. But, even though I have read this marvelous dialog many times, I felt that I was understanding some of the content in ways I had not previously experienced. I will continue to teach from Griffith, as its scholarly reputation is solid, but I will not be shy of reading Jowett's version in the future - neither his version of The Republic or other of Plato's dialogs.

I'm not too knowledgeable about philosophy so it took me some time to figure out exactly what Plato was trying to say here.He talks a lot about how a true philosopher possesses a great truth, a truth which is not well understood or accepted by many people and entire societies. The true philosopher lives and acts based on these universal truths which are unchanging, universal laws.But what is this great knowledge ?I really didn't understand his point until the final pages, really the very last page.That's where he talks about how everyone chooses their 'geniuses' (guides) before they are born.Some are blinded by greed and lust so they choose to become tyrants in this life.Others choose more wisely such as the great adventurer Odysseus who, disillusioned with adventure, chose a simple life.So the point is the people who should be running society are those who have chosen wisely before they were born based on the great truths (justice, moderation, etc..)Then the sisters of fate weave everyone's choices together:"Mortal souls, behold a new cycle of life and mortality. Your genius will not be allotted to you, but you will choose your genius; and let him who draws the first lot have the first choice, and the life which he chooses shall be his destiny. Virtue is free, and as a man honors or dishonors her he will have more or less of her; the responsibility is with the chooser - God is justified."Fulcanelli: Master Alchemist: Le Mystere des Cathedrales, Esoteric Intrepretation of the Hermetic Symbols of The Great Work (Le Mystere Des Cathedrales ... of the Hermetic Symbols of Great Work)Same Soul, Many Bodies: Discover the Healing Power of Future Lives through Progression TherapyThe Secret Teachings of All Ages (Reader's Edition)The Essential Edgar CayceInitiationInitiation in the Great Pyramid (Astara's Library of Mystical Classics)