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I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing

Plato’s Republic asks what makes a perfect community – and how we can all strive to be the ‘ideal individual’ within it.

Written in around 375 BC, it uses an assumed imagined dialogue to discuss the meaning of justice; whether the just man is happier than the unjust man; the role of philosophy and poetry within society; and the natures of existing regimes, and how they could be improved.

Based on Socratic principles, Plato’s Republic is a classic, regarded as one of the most influential works in the history of philosophy.

HarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics.

Plato's Republic has influenced Western philosophers for centuries, with its main focus on what makes a well-balanced society and individual.