The Republic by Plato - Classic Philosophy Book | Great Books in Philosophy Collection | Perfect for Students, Scholars & Philosophy Enthusiasts

Yes, this edition has a long intro, but that intro is an argument by argument exegesis (explanation) of Plato's Republic withextensive quotes and commentary that lay clear its virtues and its flaws as seen from a modern perspective.The Republic is Plato's ideal society, but mustn't an ideal society be based on Justice? So first before we can realize anideal society, we must achieve justice (or an understanding of it). This is where Plato starts.Socrates, acting as Plato's mouthpiece, asks, "What is Justice." Each guest answers starting with the host who gives theweakest but most obvious answer: Justice is doing good to your friends and evil to your enemies. Socrates examines and dismantels each argument as they are presented. What if the person you think is a friend is not your friend? What if you friend lends you a gun - he then goes crazy and asks for the gun back. The arguments get stronger in succession till Mr. T. proposes that "Might makes right." The tyrant makes justice synonymous with their interests: I am the state and your country right or wrong.On the question of whether justice = happiness: (from the commentary), Let a man do his duty first without asking whether he will be happy or not, happiness will be the inseparable accident which attends him. 'Seek ye first the kingdom of god and and his righteousness, and all thes things shall be added unto you.' Is the just person happy on the rack? Well, maybe not.If you wish to pay for a version with a nice index, feel free, but one of the other reveiws provides the chapter index location numbers. Now I admit I've only read to location 600, but when i've tried to read the Republic on my own it was somewhat perplexing. For those genuses who only need Einsten's equations to feret out the meaning of relativity the introis superfluous, but to those like me whose intellignece is 'Shockingly limited' I recommend this edition, and the price isright. BTW I paid $$ for a Philosophy 101 course where this book was all we read and professor's lectures were substantially what is in this intro.Mike the K