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The Republic (Penguin Classics) [Paperback]

Plato (Author), Melissa Lane (Introduction), H.D.P. Lee (Translator), Desmond Lee (Translator)
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
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Book Description

Publication Date: 31 May 2007 | ISBN-10: 0140455116 | ISBN-13: 978-0140455113 | Edition: 3rd

One of the greatest works of philosophy and political theory ever produced, Plato's The Republic has shaped western thought for thousands of years, remaining as relevant today as when it was first written in the Ancient Greece. This Penguin Classics edition is translated by Desmond lee with a new introduction by Melissa Lane.

Plato's Republic is widely acknowledged as the cornerstone of Western philosophy. Presented in the form of a dialogue between Socrates and three different interlocutors, it is an enquiry into the notion of a perfect community and the ideal individual within it. During the conversation other questions are raised: what is goodness; what is reality; what is knowledge? The Republic also addresses the purpose of education and the role of both women and men as 'guardians' of the people. With remarkable lucidity and deft use of allegory, Plato arrives at a depiction of a state bound by harmony and ruled by 'philosopher kings'.

Desmond Lee's translation of The Republic has come to be regarded as a classic in its own right. His introduction discusses contextual themes such as Plato's disillusionment with Athenian politics and the trial of Socrates. The new introduction by Melissa Lane discusses Plato's aims in writing The Republic, its major arguments and its perspective on politics in ancient Greece, and its significance through the ages and today.

Plato (c.427-347 BC) stands with Socrates and Aristotle as one of the shapers of the whole intellectual tradition of the West. He founded in Athens the Academy, the first permanent institution devoted to philosophical research and teaching, and the prototype of all Western universities.

If you enjoyed The Republic, you might like Machiavelli's The Prince, also available in Penguin Classics.

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Product details

  • Paperback: 480 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin Classics; 3rd edition (31 May 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0140455116
  • ISBN-13: 978-0140455113
  • Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 2.1 x 19.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,146 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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About the Author

Plato (c.427-347 BC) stands with Socrates and Aristotle as one of the shapers of the whole intellectual tradition of the West. He founded in Athens the Academy, the first permanent institution devoted to philosophical research and teaching, and theprototype of all Western universities. Desmond Lee was a fellow and tutor of Classics at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and later became President of St Hughes Hall, Cambridge.

Melissa Lane received her PhD in Philosophy from Cambridge University. She teaches the history of political thought and political philosophy in the History Faculty at Cambridge University, and is a Fellow of King's College. Her books include Method and Politics in Plato's Statesman (Cambridge, 1998) and Plato's Progeny: how Plato and Socrates still captivate the modern mind (Duckworth, 2001).

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Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
21 reviews
4.8 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
89 of 96 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Very demanding but the effort pays off. 12 Jan 2000
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I've owned two translations of this book and the Lee translation is much easier to read than the Waterfield translation by virtue of keeping readers notes as footnotes rather than placing them at the back of the book and just by the general style of the English used. There are also excellent notes and diagrams about the concepts in the book which will be useful to anyone studying this book as an academic text. This book is a story but it would never make a good film as it is all talk and no action. The main discussion point is what makes the ideal society. According to Socrates (the main speaker) it would be totalitarian and undemocratic, Most people will disagree with this but it is a well argued point that shows that politicians in any age can never be anything but corrupt and challenges views that people may have about the correctness of democracy. This is more than just a book on politics. Society is also used as a metaphor for the individual and this book explores the nature of morality and living a just life as well as the nature of true goodness and true beauty. The concepts in this book are not easily grasped and it requires some re-reading but the effort pays off in the end. Some of the ideas may seem a bit obscure but this book still holds its own after two and a half thousand years.
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27 of 30 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Good edition 4 April 2007
By Iivex Elucid
Format:Paperback
Certainly a must read for anyone interested in politics or philosophy. This is a cornerstone of western philosophy and deserves to be read far into the future. Relatively clear, easy to understand and a joy to read.

This Penguin Classics edition also has an excellent introduction (spanning more than 50 pages), and very useful translation notes. Each new chapter has a brief introduction explaning the main points and ideas running through the chapter. Given the price, this edition is a bargain.
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43 of 53 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely splendid! 4 Oct 2001
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Describing "The Republic" in such few words is somewhat difficult, as it has so much to say. I started reading the book only a short while ago and i have enjoyed every aspect of it. It is amazing how you can relate all of the issues in the story to your own life! Please please, do take your time in reading this book, because it can be misinterpreted easily. I assure you that this book is not boring, but it is a masterpiece that should definately be read at least once in a life time!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Plato - The Republic 15 April 2012
By Percy Piganaut
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you're thinking about reading The Republic, then I would. But I wouldn't read it as a first work of Plato, and certainly not as one of Plato's first works, as it is quite dense.
I suggest you read Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Phaedo, (in that order), and the Problems of Philosophy - Bertrand Russell.

The book arrived within a couple of days, and was all in perfect condition. (I've never ordered anything from Amazon which hasn't.)
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Different translations can make all the difference 30 April 2012
By Evan S. Cent
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I read this translation originally, but I lost my copy and decided to replace it with a nicer-looking hardback copy (The Republic: The Influential Classic (Capstone Classics)). I didn't know what all the fuss was about over different translations... but I quickly found out! The hardback I bought was a translation by Tom Butler-Bowdon and I hated it. I would read a paragraph and then wonder what on earth I'd just read. Somehow, the words just felt unnatural and it was difficult to take in. At first I thought it was because I was tired, but then I realised it was the translation.

This paperback version (translated by Desmond Lee) is, by contrast, wonderful So smooth and easy to take in. After a few days of frustration with the hardback, I ditched it and bought the Lee translation again. I love this book. It has been a favorite of mine for years. I'm so glad to have my old friendly version back again. It turns out the translation makes all the difference.

It's a shame about the hardback. I really liked the way it looked on my shelf, but the old cliché is true: you can't judge a book by its cover!
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5.0 out of 5 stars Warm and Friendly Philosophy from Plato 12 Jun 2013
By B Applechase
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you are new to philosophy or Plato, or indeed a seasoned and erudite reader, then you really should read and own a copy of this book. Plato is a delight to read (far easier to read than Aristotle, for example), the book being a Socratic dialogue set out very much like the dialogue of a play. I found the ideas and ideologies presented within this book profound and breath-taking, especially given how long ago the original text was written. An absolutely essential read about justice, society and the self.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent edition! 26 May 2013
By Sebastian Gisbert-Madziar
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Very good edition. Precise and distraction-less. Provides a very useful numbering of lines and a good introduction. I recommend this edition for academic purposes.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Culture 23 May 2013
By M. D. Rauville
Format:Paperback
To put it simply, the mere act of buying this made me more cultured.

This is a book of great intellectual value. Things originally written inside still hold relevance, and in fact are often commonplace in today's society.
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