The Republic

Splits the 3 classes

Ruling Philosopher class, soldiers, plebs

Allegory of the cave

Represents the philosopher’s journey from ignorance to enlightenment

What is the ideal form of government?

Meritocracy

Why does he critique poetry and the arts?

He thinks they can corrupt the soul so there should be censorship in an ideal state

What does he say in part 3?

Love is harmonious and the best people are those with harmony between body and soul, likens music to beauty

What does he say in book 5?

Shared pleasures and pains bind the citizens together, leading to unity. Talks about selective breeding and eugenics, in order to make superior offspring and maintain purity of the guardian class, as well as maintaining the population. Would be facilitated with marriage festivals and managed by the rulers using deception, ordained by the gods with sacrifices and prizes would be given for successful warriors etc, and the children would be raised by officials not the families. Any inferior/defective children would be disposed of. Collective child-rearing where women nurse whatever child is handed to them.

What does he say in Book 9?

Relates the 3 parts of the tripartite soul with the 3 classes