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Plato argues that a ruler must be a philosopher. Most people associate Plato with the term platonic friendship, which is based on reciprocal understanding. Why this magnificent idiom is attributed to him. It is a sensible read and a reminder of things we already know as decent human beings but we tend not to practice.
Even if the establishment of a perfect state seems visionary, the words of Socrates as recollected by Plato remain the underpinning of ethics in politics and laws. Peruse this book if you can for it scrutinizes all the constituents of a successful state and its leader. In the same manner we like or dislike a particular plot of a story, we can only agree or disagree with Plato's philosophy. Hence, a lengthy discussion on what justice is preludes the founding of an idyllic country.
Believed to have been born in 428 BCE, Plato was an earnest student of Socrates. He claims that for a country to be just, the ruler and its followers also have to be just. Who is Plato. It is imperative that he is knowledgeable in music, poetry, physical training, and mathematics.
Both agree that to have an ideal form of government, it must be governed by a supreme ruler or in gentler term a model president. This book will answer these questions. So staunch was the scholar's esteem of his mentor that he wrote this book.In this dialogue, Socrates and Glaucon languorously discuss how to found a perfect republic or a nation.
I was satisfied with duration of time it to be delivered to me and overall, i would say very good. it wasn't as new as I thought it would've been but it was still good condition.
However, I recently found a hard-paperback version of this book that I would have liked to have more than this flimsy paperback format. Of course, Plato's work is nothing short of timeless.
You are always in good hands with one of his translations. Grube is the most accurate and faithful translator of Plato. Unlike most other translators, in particular the horrendous Allan Bloom, Grube was both a first rate Greek scholar and had no ax to grind.
Given its impact on Western philosophy and thought, the book may at first seem slender to you. This is a book that cries out to be kept on one's bookshelf well past the completion of a particular class or a once-over reading. Keep in mind that much of it is in the form of dialog -- presented for the most part without space-consuming "I said"s and "he said"s (clarity is kept by paragraph indents. Those of you who use a highlighter, I'd advise to try with caution because the paper seems pretty absorbent. That's changing this spring as I'm taking a discussion-based class on Plato's Republic. This review is of ISBN-10: 0-87220-136-8, Plato * Republic, translated by G.M.A. Grube and revised by C.D.C. The translation is not cumbersome by striving for sheer literalness, but instead seeks to capture the flavor of the discussions Socrates had with others that Plato as a youth observed.Footnotes are provided to explain the occasional word that has a different classical than contemporary meaning -- and yet you can read each of the 10 books (chapters) that comprise this volume first without attending to the footnotes, then re-reading the books along with their footnotes.
The person who conducted the revision was encouraged to do so by the translator's family, which speaks to continuity. Unfortunately, the paper stock already suffers from read-through, even before being subjected to the pencil/pen jottings that many readers will be compelled to make. The index and bibliography also are clear, well-presented and helpful. I applaud the price point; however, I think purchasers would have been better served by paying a buck more for better-quality paper stock. After having seen what gifted vs. Note that the latter is toward the front of the book. Reeve.I somehow made it through high school and college learning about Plato and Socrates without reading any full-length works.
The brief italicized introductions help ensure ready comprehension without spoonfeeding any philosophy. According to the scholar who performed the revision, no such work was called for until 20 years after publication (I am guessing to introduce more current English idiom and turn of phrase). This text was recommended by our instructor, and I can see why. pedestrian translations can do to the vigor and beauty of classic works (Beowulf, the Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey come to mind), I can understand why Grube's translation is highly regarded.
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