jacobcf 's review for:

The Republic by Plato

3.0

reflective slow-paced

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I read the Waterfield translation which framed the dialogue as being about primarily morality and not really political science. This makes me more sympathetic to Plato because as political science, it’s frighteningly bad. I picked up the book expecting the usual critiques of authoritarianism, eugenics, the attack on art etc., and Republic delivered. Not only is this “ideal community” monstrous, a lot of the arguments made by Socrates are half-baked or outright bizarre. Of course, context is important, and the book is best enjoyed as a historical glimpse into the mind of an influential oddball. Taking the story as purely allegorical, Plato’s view of psychology is actually fun. I enjoyed sections like his descriptions of people dominated by internal conflict. His philosophy is notoriously idealist, too much for me, but even I can find inspiration in the “Philosopher Kings” section or his cave allegory. I don’t know if I’m a moral realist but I want to believe that the moral life is the good life.