The Republic is Plato's most famous work, written in the form of a dialogue between Socrates and his students. It is an exploration of the nature of justice and the ideal state. The dialogue begins with Socrates asking his students what justice is, and then proceeds to explore the various answers they give. The dialogue then moves on to discuss the ideal state, and how it should be structured and governed. The Republic also examines the nature of the soul, and how it relates to justice and the ideal state. Finally, the dialogue ends with Socrates offering his own vision of the ideal state, which he calls the "City of the Sun".
By Plato · First published -380 · Genre: Philosophy, Political Theory, Classical Literature · 10 chapters