Plato's Republic

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Key Terms

goodness
For Plato, the highest of all the forms is Goodness. Lesser forms, like justice, make up the overarching Good. The Philosopher-Kings are the only ones who can reach and understand this highest Form.

philosophy
Plato is one of the most well-known Ancient Greek philosophers. He had many recurring themes in his works, most of which come up in the Republic in some way. Some of these themes include his Theory of Forms, the state, metaphysics, and epistemology.

knowledge
Plato believed that we acquire knowledge by remembering information from our past lives that has been imbued upon our souls. We recall what our souls already know, and this is why our knowledge expands as we grow older: we have more time to remember more things.

state
The state should be made up of three classes of citizens, according to Plato. The first are the philosopher-kings or guardians; the rulers of the state. The second are the auxiliaries, those sworn to protect the convictions of the state particularly in times of war. The third are the workers, those who keep the state functioning through their production of goods and foods.

soul
Plato proposed a tripartite theory of the soul, in accordance with his tripartite views of the makeup of the state. These three parts prescribe a balance in the individual, and are the appetitive, the rational, and the spirited.

reason
Plato regards reason as the highest part of the soul, and thus decrees that it should rule over other emotions, such as anger. Human beings are rational animals because we have been given the ability to reason.

power
Plato identifies that self-interested power and political power must be kept separate in order for the state to be properly ruled.

justice
Justice is an overarching virtue for Plato, particularly in the Republic. Almost every issue that is ethical in nature comes under the scope of justice.

guardians
The guardian of the state is the ruler and the philosopher-king. The guardians are chosen from the ranks of the auxiliaries. They are those most capable of ruling the state with reason and philosophy.

virtue
For Plato, virtue is an end which can be sought. The philosopher-kings are the most virtuous of beings, and this is why they are fit to rule the state.

forms
Plato's Forms are one of the most complex ideas that Plato is known for. Plato argues that our ideas, and not the world around us, are the highest form of knowledge.

government
One of the things Plato is most well-known for are his theories on the ideal state and government. Plato advocates for a form of aristocratic government, as opposed to democratic, tyrannical, oligarchical, or timcratic.

People

For more information on any of the following people referenced in the text, please follow the links below:

Heracleitus
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Theages
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Homer
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Zeus
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Helen
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Stesichorus
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Hades
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Sophocles
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Themistocles
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Simonides
      wikipedia
Bias
      wikipedia
Pittacus
      wikipedia
Periander
      wikipedia
Perdiccas
      wikipedia
Ismenias
      wikipedia
Polydamas
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Pandarus
      wikipedia
Achilles
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Patroclus
      wikipedia
Poseidon
      wikipedia
Herodicus
      wikipedia
Gyges
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Musaeus
      wikipedia
Hesiod
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Hephaestus
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Pandarus
      wikipedia
Athene
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Aeschylus
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Tiresias
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Ares
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Aphrodite
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Apollo
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Croesus
      wikipedia

Places

For more information on any of the following places referenced in the text, please follow the links below:

Olympian
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Troy
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Egypt
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Piraeus
      wikipedia
Cocytus
      wikipedia
Styx
      wikipedia
Spartan
      wikipedia
Ithaca
      wikipedia