Plato's Republic is widely acknowledged as the cornerstone of Western philosophy. Presented in the form of a dialogue between Socrates and three different interlocutors, it is an enquiry into the notion of a perfect community and the ideal individual within it. During the conversation other questions are raised: what is goodness; what is reality; what is knowledge? The Republic also addresses the purpose of education and the role of both women and men as 'guardians' of the people. With remarkable lucidity and deft use of allegory, Plato arrives at a depiction of a state bound by harmony and ruled by 'philosopher kings'.

ソクラテスは国家の名において処刑された。それを契機としてプラトン(前427‐前347)は、師が説きつづけた正義の徳の実現には人間の魂の在り方だけではなく国家そのものを原理的に問わねばならぬと考えるに至る。この課題の追求の末に提示されるのが、本書の中心テーゼをなす哲人統治の思想に他ならなかった。プラトン対話篇中の最高峰。