Classics and the Western Canon discussion

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Plato, Republic - Revisited > Reading Schedule for Republic Revisited

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message 1: by Everyman (new)

Everyman | 7718 comments We will start our revisit of Plato's Republic on January 4th, 2017.

The book is traditionally divided into ten books; we will use this division and read one book each week. However, a few editions (I believe the Waterfield translation for one) do not use those book divisions, so I have given the Stephanus page numbering also in parentheses (see below for the meaning of that if you aren't aware of it). Thus, the reading schedule will be:

Jan 4-10: Book 1 (327a-354b)
Jan 11-17: Book 2 (357a-383a)
Jan 18-24: Book 3 (386a-471b)
Jan 25-31: Book 4 (419a-445e)
Feb 1-7: Book 5 (449a-480a)
Feb 8-14: Book 6 (484a-511e)
Feb 15-21: Book 7 (514a-541b)
Feb 22-28: Book 8 (543a-569c)
Mar1-7: Book 9 (571a-592b)
Mar 8-14: Book 10 (595a-621d)
(Will decide at some point whether to add an extra week for discussion of the work as a whole.)

The Stephanus numbers are taken from the 1578 edition of the first English translation of the complete works of Plato, translated by Joannes Serranus and published by Henricus Stephanus. Most modern editions print the Stephanus numbers with the text to make reference to passages easier and uniform among different editions, since we will probably be reading several translations within the group.

Since there was some commentary in the edition, the Stephanus pages aren't all the same length, and there are page number breaks between books in the Republic where introductions to each book were included.

When referring to a specific passage during these discussions, please include the Stephanus number (it's sufficient just to say, for example, "I disagree with Glaucon's agreement with Plato at 442d because ..."

(A technical note: The numbers in the Republic edition are all from one of the three volumes, so the numbers aren't duplicative, but the Stephanus edition was published in three volumes, so there are three sets of numbers, meaning that it is necessary if it's not clear which dialogue is being referenced that one reference both the dialogue and the Stephanus number. That won't be an issue for us, though. But if you refer to other dialogues, be sure to mention which dialogue along with the Stephanus numbers.)

If all that isn't sufficiently confusing, please let me know and I'll try to add even more confusion to the mix.


message 2: by Jonathan (new)

Jonathan Moran | 83 comments I am in for this. I have to see which translation I have.


message 3: by Tommi (new)

Tommi Karjalainen (asiaton) | 4 comments Joining now, I was already reading and were already in Book 6, going towards 610. Reading the Penguin Classics, mine has §6 The Divided Line.

Anyone else still following this schedule?


message 4: by Dan (new)

Dan | 14 comments The Stephanus numbers after the Books will be a better indication of where you should be - assuming your book has them. My Oxford has about 16 books, but I follow the section numbers.


message 5: by Ashley (new)

Ashley Adams | 331 comments Tommi wrote: "... Anyone else still following this schedule?"
I'm here! Fallen a bit behind and waiting to comment until I catch up, but proceeding with steadfast determination!


message 6: by Everyman (new)

Everyman | 7718 comments The schedule as posted in message 1 allowed for the possibility of an extra week for discussion of the work as a whole (and to give a few extra days to catch up and finish posting in the other threads.) Now is the time to decide yes or no on that extra week.

If there is a clamor for the extra week, we'll add it. If the response is pretty much "meh," we won't.

So if you want the extra week, clamor here. Otherwise, we'll assume meh and move forward with the existing schedule.


message 7: by Rosemarie (new)

Rosemarie Another week would be good.


message 8: by Dan (new)

Dan | 14 comments Meh


message 9: by Kathy (new)

Kathy (klzeepsbcglobalnet) | 525 comments I am just trying to keep up! Starting Book 8 now...


message 10: by Lily (new)

Lily (joy1) | 5241 comments I've been starting over. My favorite passage is probably still Cephalus telling his guests, you all have at it. I'm going to the sacrifices.


message 11: by Everyman (new)

Everyman | 7718 comments There has been no outpouring of demand for extending the schedule, so I'll leave it as originally posted.


message 12: by Janice (JG) (new)

Janice (JG) | 118 comments Just ran across mention of this book... could be a palate cleanser (I've gotten lost in the threads here and need to do some catch-up reading).
The Just City


message 13: by Thomas (new)

Thomas | 4983 comments Thanks, Janice! I'll have to give this a whirl. I have often wondered if this had ever been attempted... sounds interesting!


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