The Republic

Plato's Republic is a Socratic dialogue concerning justice in the context of examining the character of the just man and the order of a just polity. Written in 380 BC, The Republic essentially consists of Socrates discussing the meaning and nature of justice with various men, speculating how different hypothetical cities, underpinned by different forms of justice, would fare. Confusingly, The Republic is not about a republic. The society described would be more accurately termed a polity. Plato's solution is a definition of justice that appeals to human psychology rather than supposed behaviour. Plato was the first Western philosopher to apply philosophy to politics. His ideas on, for example, the nature and value of justice, and the relationship between justice and politics, have been extraordinarily influential. Written after the Peloponnesian War, The Republic reflected Plato's perception of politics as a dirty business that sought mainly to manipulate the unthinking masses. It failed to nurture wisdom. It starts out as a dialogue between Socrates several young men on the nature of justice. The claim is that justice is whatever is in the interest of the strong, an interpretation which Socrates explains would lead to disharmony and general unhappiness.