An authoritative new translation of Plato's The Republic by Christopher Rowe, with notes and an introduction.

'We set about founding the best city we could, because we could be confident that if it was good we would find justice in it'

The Republic, Plato's masterwork, was first enjoyed 2,400 years ago and remains one of the most widely-read books in the world: as a foundational work of Western philosophy, and for the richness of its ideas and virtuosity of its writing. Presented as a dialogue between Plato's teacher Socrates and various interlocutors, it is an exhortation to philosophy, inviting its readers to reflect on the choices to be made if we are to live the best life available to us. This complex, dynamic work creates a picture of an ideal society governed not by the desire for money, power or fame, but by philosophy, wisdom and justice.

Christopher Rowe's accurate and enjoyable new translation remains faithful to the many variations of the Republic's tone, style and pace. This edition also contains a chronology, further reading, an outline of the work's main arguments and an introduction discussing Plato's relationship with Socrates, and the Republic's style, ideas and historical context.

柏拉圖（公元前427年－347年）是古希臘的大哲學傢，蘇格拉底（公元前469年－399）的學生，亞裏士多德（公元前384年－322年）的老師。他一生大部分時間居住在古希臘民族文化中心的雅典。他熱愛祖國，熱愛哲學。他的最高理想，哲學傢應為政治傢，政治傢應為哲學傢。哲學傢不是躲在象牙塔裏的書呆，應該學以緻用，求諸實踐。有哲學頭腦的人，要有政權，有政權的人，要有哲學頭腦。