Book 1Book 1–– Republic Summary Republic SummaryPlato is speaking through Socrates to

answer the question of “what is justice?”Plato is speaking through Socrates to answer the
question of “what is justice?”CephalusCephalus–– elder gentleman who is respected and the
host elder gentleman who is respected and the hostArgues that justice is living up to your
legal Argues that justice is living up to your legal debts and to be honestdebts and to be
honestSpokesman of Greek traditionSpokesman of Greek traditionSocrates defeats the
argument by using the Socrates defeats the argument by using the example of returning a
sword toexample of returning a sword tomadmanmadman––you’re being good legally but are
endangering other livesyou’re being good legally but are endangering other
livesPolemarchusPolemarchus–– son of Cephalus son of CephalusJustice is that you owe
your friends good Justice is that you owe your friends good and your friends harmand your
friends harmShares with Cephalus the idea that Shares with Cephalus the idea that
rendering to each what is duerendering to each what is dueRepresents the attitude of a
young ambitious politicianRepresents the attitude of a young ambitious politicianSocrates
argues that our judgment of friends/enemies is poor so it’s a badSocrates argues that our
judgment of friends/enemies is poor so it’s a badideaideaThrasymachusThrasymachus–– the
Sophist the SophistJustice is advantage of the strongerJustice is advantage of the
strongerooNot really a definition but an attempt to Not really a definition but an attempt to
argue that justice is wrongargue that justice is wrongHis argument is that it doesn’t pay to
be justiceHis argument is that it doesn’t pay to be justiceooBeing just only helps othersBeing
just only helps othersJustice must be defined and NOW be proven to Justice must be
defined and NOW be proven to be worthwhilebe worthwhileSocrates responds with the
following:Socrates responds with the following:ooThe view being advanced is promiting
injustice as a virtueThe view being advanced is promiting injustice as a virtueIn this vein life
is seen as In this vein life is seen as a continual competitiona continual
competitionooEventually proves that injustice can’t be a virtue b/c it’s contrarty toEventually
proves that injustice can’t be a virtue b/c it’s contrarty towisdom which is a virtuewisdom
which is a virtueooA wise man never seeks to beat out those who possess the same artA wise
man never seeks to beat out those who possess the same artSocrates says that justice
allows a Socrates says that justice allows a group to act in commongroup to act in
commonOne must be moderately just in the sOne must be moderately just in the sense of
adhering to the rules that ense of adhering to the rules that allowallowsomeone to reach the
goals that someone to reach the goals that Thrasymachus discusses (wealth,
powever)Thrasymachus discusses (wealth, powever)Justice is a virtue of the soul which is
health of the soulJustice is a virtue of the soul which is health of the soulBook 2Book 2––
Republic Summary Republic SummaryGlaucon describes that all goods can be described into
three classesGlaucon describes that all goods can be described into three classesooThings we
only desire for their consequences (medical treatment orThings we only desire for their
consequences (medical treatment orphysical training)physical training)ooThings we only desire
for their sake (such as Things we only desire for their sake (such as joy)joy)ooThings we desire
for both their own sake and for Things we desire for both their own sake and for what we get
fromwhat we get fromthem (knowledge, sigh, and health)them (knowledge, sigh, and
health)ooGlaucon wants Socrates to prove that justice Glaucon wants Socrates to prove that
justice is not only desirable butis not only desirable butis also in the third class of goodsis also
in the third class of goods

oMost people view justice as a necessary evil to prevent a greater evilfrom fallingJustice
stems from human weakness and vulnerabilityoRing of Gyges– allows a person to be
invisibleIf armed with the ring, even the most just man would performunjust actions because
they would be uncatchableoEnds argument that people prefer unjust to justUnjust man is
honored and rewarded with wealthOther hand, the other is scorned and
wretchedAdeimantus joins Glaucon– no one praises justice for its sake only for itsrewards
that it allows you to reapBook 3– Republic SummarySocrates begins with the description of
heroes who are never presented asfearing death. Likes gods they are always presented as
honestGlaucon objects– what about normal mortal men?Socrates postpones the issue and
discusses stories and other arts where heforbids artists to represent characters that are vicious
and badArgues that a pure love between boy and man is important and vital part of aboy’s
educationHe argues for the physical training of the guardiansoTraining for war rather than
athletic trainingoImportant to balance music/poetry with trainingDoctors should be trained
to treat the healthy who suffer from a singlecurable ailmentoThey shouldn’t be allowed to deal
with the chronically illShould be put to death

Book 4– Republic SummaryAdeimantus argues that the ruler’s position sounds tough and
likely to beharshoRulers are unable to hold wealth, keep a mistress, or do regular thingsthat
often make folks happyoSocrates refutes that by arguing the goal is to make the city the
mosthappy.Providing guardians with happiness would make themsomething else other than
guardiansUses the example of a purple eye for a statue– beautiful butnot practical because
no one has purple eyesMust do the appropriately best thing for each part in the cityfor whole
to be the bestSocrates argues that in the ideal city there will be no money so there will beno
poverty (or wealth for that matter)oAdeimantus argues that this will make the city state weak
in the eyesof invadersCity will have the best warriorsNeighboring city would help b/c they’d
receive all the spoilsSocrates mandates that the state must be kept to a certain size so that it
canbe governed wellGuardians must protect their educationThey shall share wives and
childrenA just city has no use for laws– if emergencyarises they’ll have theexperience to
handle itLooks into current city to identify virtues that the just city will
haveoWisdomGuardians possess this b/c they can run the city so theirwisdom is transferred
to the city as welloCourageLies with the people becaue they must raise arms for the city
ifneed beoModerationSpread out over the whole cityoJusticeThat all do what is best suited
for each other

Book 5– Republic SummarySocrates wants to discuss other aspects between the relationship
of the city andsoul.Polemachus and Adeimantus want him to explain the comment about
sharing wivesand children. This prompts a discussion on the characteristics of the city and
howthe guardians shall live.First major argument revolves around womenThey will be
brought up alongside men and receive the same education.He does believe that women are
different BUToWomen can also be:Rational like menNaturally spirited like menNaturally
appetitive like menIdeal city would make use of womenSecond major argument is based on
the concept of the sharing women and childrenGuardians will mate during certain festivals
designated for sexualintercourseoPossible for multiple pairings for one personGifted
peopleChildren from these festivals will be raised together with no idea who
theirparentsSex is not permitted except for at this festivaloIf a child does come about it will
be killedTo prevent inter-breeding, guardians will have to keep in mind that theirchildren
include all children born 7-10 months after the festivaloThis group consists of siblings and sex
is prohibitedSocrates’ goal is to make a unified goal. People usually are divided
becausetheyconsider their family to be first. This way everyone is a member of the
family.Socrates still has to respond to whether this is actually possible– can anyone livewithout
family ties, wealth, or sex?However he discusses some more aspects of how the guardians will
live:Children will be taken to war, on horseback to experience itAny cowardly actions by a
guardian will be met with penaltyIf Greek enemies are defeated–don’t esnalve or destroy
landsIf enemies are not- Greek– wreak havoc

Book 6– Republic SummaryPhilosophers seek the truth so they are the best suited to rule
because they containall the knowledgeThirst for truth makes them the most virtuousThis
means that the rational part of his soul must rule which also means thatthe soul is just
(?)Adeimantus is unconvinced– most of the philosophers he knows are uselessor
viciousoSocrates agrees but counters that these philosophers have not beenproperly
raisedoThey are used for their talents by their family to get money (enterpolitics) so they are
led away from the life of a philosopheroTO fill the gap of philosophers, randoms fill the gap
and becomephilosophers when they have no right to beoThe rest of philosophers appear
useless because thepeople havebecome against following proper idealsFollows metaphor of a
ship- if a ship owner is hard ofhearing/vision and lacks sea skills then he will want to have
acaptainSailors will use tricks/force to prove to the owner that theyshould be the
captainThe person selected will be the navigator/captain/one whoknows the ship. Everyone
else is useless even if the sailorknows a lot about seafaring he will still be useless.Athens is
the same– no one knows about the true knowledgeso everyone tries to be clever and win at
life. The goodphilosophers are left behindBook 7– Republic SummaryAllegory of the cave–
effects of education on the osulEducation brings the philosopher from divided line to the
Form of the GoodPeople live in a cave never seeing light– they can only look straight
aheadThey watch these shadows being manipulated by peopleThis is all they can see so they
think the shadows are real– this isimaginationThe people are freed and they look at the
statuses themselvesoPeople realize they are seeing a different dimension of reality that
isbetter than the shadowsoThe people accept the statues as the most real thing even
thoughstatues are just imitationsoThis is belief–he has contact with real things but he isn’t
aware of agreater reality

Finally the people leave the cave and experience the real objects–
trees/flowers/etc...oCognitive stage of thoughtoFirst glimpse of the most real things, the
FormsEventually he will look up and realized that the sun is the creator ofeverything -- >
understandingGoal of education is to pull people out of the caveoEducation should not aim at
putting knowledge but at turning the soulinto the right desiresOverarching goal of city is to
put the guardians to focus on the Form of theGoodoSometimes the rulers must return to the
cave and ruleoPlus to help other people escapeBook 9– Republic SummaryTimocracy– honor-
driven man who resembles and rules itOligarcy– man driven by necessary
appetitesDemocracy– ruled by a man of unnecessary appetitesTyranny– ruled by a man driven
by unlawful appetitiesTyranny is the worst. Inevitable stages of degeneration because humans
are notperfectRulers will make mistakes over time about the succession of rulersThese people
will work on rulers having private property and wealthTo satisfy the bad faction, the rulers will
distribute the land and houses in the city asprivate property among themselves and enslave
producers as serfs. These peoplewill focus on war and such the warring classes won’t farm,
etc...They will avoid wiserulers but instead choose spirited simple people. Love of victory and
honor will bepredominant.The corresponding man is produced by being the son of the
aristocratic man whoencourages the rational part of his son’s soul. The son is influenced by a
bad motherwho pull him toward the love of money. He ends up in the middle.Oligarchy– as
money/wealth grows, ruling will eventually be entirely basedon wealthoFive faults:People
aren’t fit for ruleIt’s two cities – one of rich popel and one of poor
Can’t fight a war because an armed populace would bedangerous to the rulersNo principle
of specialization– rulers are also interested inwealth creationAllows for random types of
people like criminals andbeggars to enteroTwo types: drones that harmless or
stingingoCorresponding person is a thrifty money makerTimocrat’s son who emulates
himBut the father befalls tragedy and the son turns togreed/hungerHe focuses to amass
wealth and he is subject to randomappetitesHe is careful though because he doesn’t want to
lose his moneyOligarchy democracyoDesire for money leads to lending money at
interestoPeople are driven to pverty while others succeedoImpoverished hate the rulers while
the rulers pretend to ignore thepooroThe poor revolt– agitated by the stinging dronesoResult
is a constitution whenever everyone has equal portions of thecityoFreedom is important and
positions are just assignedoCorresponding manNecessary desires–we can’t train ourselves to
overcome –indicate true human needsUnnecessary desires– one we can overcome (like a
decadentlifestyle)Oligarchic– necessary desiresHis son the democrat is overcome by
uncesssary desiresManipulated by bad people, he abandons moderationand treates anarch
as freedomHis extravagance is magnificence to him while he seesshamelessness as
courageTowards the end he drifts to the middle moreDemocracy TyrannyoFreedom
neglection of proper rulingoDrones stir up trouble by finding two groupsPeople who are
organized and will become wealthyThose who work with their hands and take little part in
politicsPuts them against each otheroPoor think the rich are oligarchs. Rich think poor will
revolt.oThe winner is the drone who becomes the tyrantHe kills all the good peopleMakes
constant war