The Republic is widely regarded as Plato's greatest work and the finest of the Socratic dialogues--it remains a cornerstone of Western philosophy. It sets out to define is "What is justice?" Presented in the form of a dialogue between Socrates and his interlocutors, The Republic explores the idea of what consitutes a perfect community and the ideal individual who lives within it. It considers whether or not a concept of Justice may be determined by citizens in a given state and how Justice may be best accomplished. Plato establishes that the just individual can be defined in analogy with the just society, compares the ideal rule of philosopher kings to the unjust rule of tyrants, and concludes that justice is worthwhile for its own sake--it is the greatest good.

This edition includes:
-A concise introduction that gives the reader important background information
-A chronology of the author's life and work
-A timeline of significant events that provides the book's historical context
-An outline of key themes to guide the reader's own interpretations
-Detailed explanatory notes
-Critical analysis and modern perspectives on the work
-Discussion questions to promote lively classroom and book group interaction
-A list of recommended related books and films to broaden the reader's experience

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