Plato's Republic: An Introduction

by Sean Sayers

This book provides a clear, concise and highly readable introduction to the main themes of Plato's "Republic," It covers Plato's social and political thought, his moral philosophy, his epistemology and metaphysics, and his philosophy of art and literature. Plato's theories in all these areas are presented in clear and straightforward terms. They are located in the context of the views of subsequent philosophers and critically assessed in the light of current debates. The contemporary significance of Plato's ideas is emphasised throughout. Written in a lucid and lively style, this book succeeds in making a wide range of fundamental philosophical ideas widely accessible. It provides an ideal introduction to the "Republic" for students taking courses in philosophy, political and social thought, classical studies, literary theory, religious studies, etc., as well as for the general reader.

192 pages, Paperback

First published June 28, 1999

About the author

Sean Sayers has written extensively on Hegelian and Marxist philosophy from a Hegelian‑Marxist perspective. He has worked in the areas of social philosophy, ethics, theory of knowledge, metaphysics and logic. He has also written on Freud and psychoanalysis, and is currently working on issues in aesthetics. He studied at the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford and holds a PhD from the University of Kent. His work has been translated into Chinese, French, German, Greek, Japanese, Korean, and Turkish. He has held visiting appointments in Colorado, Massachusetts, Sydney, Istanbul, Shanghai, Wuhan, and Beijing. He is currently Visiting Professor of Philosophy at Peking University (2016-18).

Reviews

[Sia Marion]

Surprisingly interesting. I actually had an intellectual blast reading this book. So much fun to think! Highly recommend because Sayers is really readable.

[Caomhghain]

Not so much a book by book guide to The Republic as an approach to the ideas raised, their strength and how they relate to modern concepts and problems. Very clear and unassuming.