Ivor Ludlam: A Critical Analysis of Plato’s Politeia
Click here for a structural diagram and summary of the dialogue, together with an extract and table of contents of the book, Plato’s Republic as a Philosophical Drama on Doing Well
Traditional View
- Plato’s masterpiece is about so many subjects that it appears to have no unifying core.
- Justice is the most traditional subject associated with the dialogue.
- Books I and X are often regarded as detachable additions to the main argument of Books II–IX.
- The philosophical heart of the dialogue is commonly located in Books V–VII, containing the Sun Analogy, the Divided Line, and the Cave Analogy.
- Plato appears to advocate rule by philosopher-kings, together with the use of deception for the benefit of the state.
- In short, despite its reputation as Plato’s masterpiece, the dialogue is frequently criticized for its immorality and incoherence.
This Analysis
- The dialogue has a single unifying dramatic and philosophical purpose.
- Books I and X are indispensable to that purpose.
- The apparent diversity of subject matter reflects a carefully constructed dramatic design.
- The central books illuminate rather than interrupt the dialogue’s overall argument.
The Plato Paradigm 