The Blackwell Guide to Plato's Republic

The Blackwell Guide to Plato's Republic consists of thirteen new essays written by both established scholars and younger researchers with the specific aim of helping readers to understand Plato's masterwork. This guide to Plato’s Republic is designed to help readers understand this foundational work of the Western canon. Sheds new light on many central features and themes of the Republic. Covers the literary and philosophical style of the Republic; Plato's theories of justice and knowledge; his educational theories; and his treatment of the divine. Will be of interest to readers who are new to the Republic, and those who already have some familiarity with the book.

Notes on Contributors vii Editor's Introduction 1 1 The Literary and Philosophical Style of the Republic 7 Christopher Rowe 2 Allegory and Myth in Plato's Republic 25 Jonathan Lear 3 Socrates' Refutation of Thrasymachus 44 Rachel Barney 4 Plato's Challenge: the Case against Justice in Republic II 63 Christopher Shields 5 The Gods and Piety of Plato's Republic 84 Mark L. McPherran 6 Plato on Learning to Love Beauty 104 Gabriel Richardson Lear 7 Methods of Reasoning about Justice in Plato's Republic 125 Gerasimos Santas 8 The Analysis of the Soul in Plato's Republic 146 Hendrik Lorenz 9 The Divided Soul and the Desire for Good in Plato's Republic 166 Mariana Anagnostopoulos 10 Plato and the Ship of State 189 David Keyt 11 Knowledge, Recollection, and the Forms in Republic VII 214 Michael T. Ferejohn 12 The Forms in the Republic 234 Terry Penner 13 Plato's Defense of Justice in the Republic 263 Rachel G. K. Singpurwalla General Bibliography 283 Index 285