The Republic (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

by Plato (Author), Desmond Lee (Translator, Introduction)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Ostensibly a discussion of the nature of justice, The Republic presents Plato's vision of the ideal state, covering a wide range of topics: social, educational, psychological, moral, and philosophical. It also includes some of Plato's most important writing on the nature of reality and the theory of the "forms."

Translated with an Introduction by Desmond Lee --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Language Notes
Text: English, Greek (translation)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Classics; Rev/2nd Rp edition (September 30, 1955)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140440488
• ISBN-13: 978-0140440485
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #259,862 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Plato's bargain, July 31, 2006

By	Rocco Dormarunno (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Republic (Dover Thrift Editions) (Paperback)

I won't waste time trying to summarize Plato's "The Republic". Most people (I would guess nine out of ten) who have read this colussus of classical philosophy, read it because they were forced to by their college instructors. This is unfortunate because "The Republic" is a compelling and enduring philosophy of how life should be lived, how justice should be approached, and how leaders should lead.

What recommends this book, really, is the bargain price: under five bucks. As one of those college instructors who makes their students read this, I always recommend this edition. Sterling and Scott's translation is as good as anyone else's, so why not save my students a few bucks? And, if you're one of those one out of ten who is considering reading this on your own, you've only got five bucks to lose, but an awful lot of rewarding reading to gain!

Rocco Dormarunno
College of New Rochelle

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Classic, December 14, 2005

By	John Freeman "JF, Philosophiae Doctor" (El Cajon, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Republic (Dover Thrift Editions) (Paperback)

I got in to this book after reading E. Robert Morse's Justice and Equality and hearing about the parallels and I was pleasantly surprised. The translation wasn't a very difficult read and there are a lot of valid ideas that are still meaningful today. The wide scope of topics prevents boredom and the read is quick. I was interested in the opening questions- what is Justice and why should we be just? If one can gain material things and social prominence not being just and moreover being unjust, why do it? His answers aren't always filled with perspective, but they do open one's mind. Another good book along these lines is Essays by Michel de Montaigne which is an overview of life from a humanist's perspective.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very nice copy, February 8, 2009

By	MB Morris "MBM" (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Republic (Paperback)

Very nice book! Plato is and will always be up to date! I like this publishers books, they are nice and of good quality!