PLATO REPUBLIC STUDY GUIDE
Understanding Plato is the
prize-winning first philosophy study guide in the eight-book series of study guides on the classical
philosophers.
The series is designed for beginning and intermediate philosophy students who
would like more depth than they would ordinarily get from books that
give only notes, brief summaries and outlines of the philosopher's thoughts and
theories.
Unlike other philosophy study books, each book in the series focuses on both content and philosophical method.
Each chapter breaks down arguments of the philosopher into understandable parts, showing how philosophers reaches their conclusions and how they defend against possible objections.
Each chapter concludes with a set of questions for thought and discussion. Some of the questions are on topics that provide an excellent starting point for term papers.
References to other books
about the philosopher or the topic can be found at the end of the
chapter, in footnotes, textboxes or at the back of the book.
Understanding Plato contains a complete discussion of four of the early Socratic dialogues (Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno) and Plato's longer and more famous work, The Republic.
CONTENTS
Part I has four chapters with discussion questions about Plato’s Socratic dialogues.
Part II has six chapters with discussion questions about the most important ideas and theories in Plato’s Republic.
Part III is a summary and discussion of the nature of philosophy, the difference between philosophy and science, and the unique methods of philosophical reasoning.
DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.1 About the Smart Student’s Guide series
PART I A GUIDE TO PLATO’S SOCRATIC DIALOGUES
2. EUTHYPHRO: AN EXAMPLE OF PHILOSOPHICAL METHOD
2.1 Examples are not Definitions
2.5 Philosophical and Scientific Method
Questions for Thought and Discussion
3. APOLOGY: THE TRIAL OF SOCRATES
3.2.3 Gods and Personal Daimons
3.3 Death, Justice and Civil Disobedience
3.4 Justice and Self-Preservation
3.5 .To Fear Death is “Blameworthy Ignorance”
3.6 Injustice and Harm to Oneself
3.7 The Gadfly of Athens, the Unexamined Life and Obedience to the God
3.8 Closing Statement to the Jury
Questions for Thought and Discussion
4. CRITO: THE DUTY TO OBEY THE LAW
4.2.2 The Duty Never to do Injustice to Anyone
4.2.3 The Authority of the Law
4.3 Plato’s Method for Determining Right and Wrong
Questions for Thought and Discussion
5. MENO: VIRTUE, KNOWLEDGE AND IMMORTALITY
5.1.1 Virtue Defined by Examples
5.1.2 Virtue as the Ability to Rule
5.1.3 Virtue as the Power to Acquire Good Things
5.5 The Theory of Recollection
5.6 A Brief Critique of Socrates’ Solution
Questions for Thought and Discussion
PART II A GUIDE TO PLATO’S REPUBLIC
6.1 Three Attempts to Define Justice
6.1.1 Cephalus and Polemarchus
6.1.2 Thrasymachus: Justice as Political Power
6.1.3 The Ruler as “One who Never Errs”
6.1.4 Do Rulers Rule for the Good of Their Subjects?
6.1.5 A Lesson about the Limit of Inductive Arguments
6.2 Is Injustice More Profitable Than Justice?
6.2.1 The Unjust City and the Unjust Person
6.2.2 Functions, Virtues and Vices of the Soul
Questions for Thought and Discussion
7. A NEW ARGUMENT FOR INJUSTICE
7.2 Renewing the Argument of Thrasymachus
7.2.2 The Unwilling Practice of Justice
7.2.3 The Better Life of Unjust Persons
7.3.2 The Origin of the Republic: Two Principles
7.3.4 The Luxurious or “Feverish” City
7.3.5 The Guardians of the City
7.3.6 Political Power in the City
Questions for Thought and Discussion
8.1 Searching for Justice and Injustice
8.2 Justice and Injustice in the City
8.4. A Proof that the Soul has Parts
8.5 Names and Functions of Parts of the Soul
8.5.1 Questions About the Divided Soul Theory
8.6 Justice and Other Individual Virtues
8.8 It is More Profitable to be Just than Unjust
Questions for Thought and Discussion
9. Women, Marriage and Children
Questions for Thought and Discussion
10.3.1 The Sun as an Offspring of the Good
10.6 Knowledge of the Good and Political Authority
Questions for Thought and Discussion
11. DEFECTIVE CONSTITUTIONS AND DAMAGED SOULS
11.1 Imperfection in Constitutions and Individuals
11.2.1 Ranking Lives by Happiness
11.2.2 Ranking Lives by Pleasure
11.2.3 Reason as the Master of Desire
11.3 Injustice is Never Profitable
Questions for Thought and Discussion
PART III POSTSCRIPT: PHILOSOPHICAL METHOD
12.3 Knowledge and Discovery in Philosophy
PHAEDO: THE LAST HOURS OF SOCRATES
Understanding Plato is available now at low cost in digital and print versions at
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I5GAIJI
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