~ c. 375 BC ~
The Republic, written by Plato in around 375 BCE, is a significant work of philosophy and political theory that explores the meaning of justice, the nature of a just city-state and of a just man. The book is a Socratic dialogue in which Socrates discusses these topics with various Athenians and foreigners, proposing hypothetical cities in comparison, and culminating in a utopian city-state ruled by a philosopher-king. The dialogue also tackles topics such as ageing, love, theory of forms, the immortality of the soul, and the role of the philosopher and of poetry in society. The book is split into various sections that explore different themes, with each building on one another to create a comprehensive insight into Plato's political philosophy.