Plato’s Republic (5 volumes)

The Republic — the supreme work on virtue and justice by the universal philosopher — is regarded as one of the most emblematic works worldwide, exerting a profound influence on both philosophy and political theory.

Socrates, surrounded by distinguished Athenian citizens and foreigners alike, all gathered in the house of Polemarchus in Piraeus, engage in a discussion where they construct an ideal city, or rather an ideal form of government, and seek to answer the fundamental questions:

• What is the definition of Justice?

• Who is just, and who is unjust?

• How happy is the just person compared to the unjust one?

Readers also encounter discussions on the models that could build a healthy society and system of governance, including:

• the Allegory of the Cave,

• the ideal education of the youth,

• the immortality of the soul,

• the forms of government and their weaknesses,

• the qualities of the Philosopher-King—or, as we might say today, the ideal Ruler,

• and the parallels between the structure of the soul and that of the state.

Each volume includes the ancient Greek text and a Modern Greek translation on facing pages, along with commentary.