Routledge Philosophy GuideBook to Plato and the Republic (Routledge Philosophy GuideBooks)

Nickolas Pappas' book on Plato's Republic adds a unique perspective to the collection of books on Plato and his major political work. Pappas presents this ancient masterpiece with an eye on the modern reader and "present interest." We not only fit the Republic into political thought and practice of the Fifth Century B.C. We also perceive its relevance to today's world. Instead of a dry, "academic" discussion, the author presents a lively and trenchant analysis that investigates every concept of Plato's work. The book's exhaustive index is an additional aid to the reader. So is the author's concluding section titled "Fundamental Premises in the Republic's Argument." As a teacher of philosophy myself, I consider Pappas' work to be indispensable for my students' comprehension of some of the most intriguing and challenging ideas on government and citizenship ever developed in political thought. Pappas shows clearly why Plato's Republic has endured for over 2,000 years as a blueprint for the critique of politics in any age. Preliminaries......Page 1 Contents......Page 10 Preface......Page 14 1 Plato and the Republic......Page 20 2 What is justice? (Book 1)......Page 44 3 What good is justice? (Books 1–2)......Page 56 4 Justice in the city (Books 2–4)......Page 76 5 Justice in the soul (Book 4)......Page 98 6 Radical politics (Books 5–7)......Page 116 7 Metaphysics and epistemology (Books 5–7)......Page 142 8 Injustice in the soul and in the city (Books 8–9)......Page 174 9 Art and immortality (Book 10)......Page 190 10 Plato’s ethics and politics......Page 208 11 Plato’s metaphysics and epistemology......Page 218 12 Plato’s abuses and uses of poetry......Page 226 Appendix: Fundamental premises in the Republic’s argument......Page 234 Bibliography......Page 236 Index......Page 244 Plato is one of the most important figures in Western thought. The Republic is his most important, and most widely studied, work. This GuideBook will steer the reader clearly through this work.
Plato and the Republic will introduce and assess:
* Plato's life and the background to the Republic
* The text and ideas of the Republic
* Plato's continuing importance to Western thought Ideal for students coming to Plato for the first time, this GuideBook will be vital for all students of Plato in philosophy, politics and classics at all levels. This Routledge Philosophy GuideBook introduces one of the greatest works of Western thought, Plato's Republic. The Republic is the most studied work of philosophy and is a key work in introductory philosophy, ancient philosophy and political theory courses. Indeed, the influence of the arguments and positions that Plato puts forward in the Republic are found in nearly every subject and make a familiarity with the text essential for all students. A welcome and accessible companion to one of Plato's most important works. It leads the reader through Plato's life, the background to the Republic, its text and ideas and its continuing influence on Western thought. This text guides readers through Plato's "Republic", his most important work. It provides a background to, and analysis of, the text and also assesses Plato's continuing importance in Western thought. This book introduces and assesses Plato's life and the background of the Republic, the ideas and text of the Republic, and Plato's continuing importance to Western thought First Published In 2002. Routledge Is An Imprint Of Taylor & Francis, An Informa Company.