How did Plato define a republic?

Plato’s Republic is a Socratic dialogue concerning justice in the context of examining the character of the just man and the order of a just polity. Confusingly, The Republic is not about a republic. The society described would be more accurately termed a polity.

Is Plato’s ideal state a republic?

Plato’s ideal state was a republic with three categories of citizens: artisans, auxiliaries, and philosopher-kings, each of whom possessed distinct natures and capacities. In Plato’s view, these rulers were not merely elite intellectuals, but moral leaders.

Did Plato’s Republic actually happen?

5 Answers. Both of the answers are correct to point out that the dialogues are fictitious. It is extremely unlikely any section of any length is a transcript of an actual conversation between Socrates and anyone.

Is Plato’s Republic literal?

The title of Plato’s work The Republic is a literal translation of the Greek title Politeia (Πολιτεία), which simply referred to the affairs of the city state, and not to a republic in any modern sense.

Is a Republic a democracy?

A democratic republic is a form of government operating on principles adopted from a republic and a democracy. Republic: “A state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives…”

What does Plato say about democracy in the Republic?

Plato believes that the democratic man is more concerned with his money over how he can help the people. He does whatever he wants whenever he wants to do it. His life has no order or priority. Plato does not believe that democracy is the best form of government.

Did Socrates or Plato write the republic?

Moreover, in the dialogue Socrates seems primarily concerned with what is an ethical issue, namely whether the just life is better than the unjust life for the individual. These two observations raise two issues. The first is whether the Republic is primarily about ethics or about politics.

Did Plato record Socrates?

Two of his younger students, the historian Xenophon and the philosopher Plato, recorded the most significant accounts of Socrates’ life and philosophy. For both, the Socrates that appears bears the mark of the writer.

Was Plato’s Republic satirical?

The Republic is not satire. Plato really believes his world is the best there is and that its people are as happy as human beings can be. One of those reasons, which is also a main reason the Republic has disturbed so many people over the centuries, is supposed to be the fact that the ideal city will contain no art.

Is the Republic fiction?

The Republic is arguably the most popular and most widely taught of Plato’s writings. Although it contains its dramatic moments and it employs certain literary devices, it is not a play, a novel, a story; it is not, in a strict sense, an essay.