Socrates was a philosopher who lived in ancient Athens during the 5th century BCE. He didn’t write down any of his teachings, yet his ideas shaped Western philosophy. His influence comes through his students, mainly Plato, who recorded his dialogues. Despite his impact, Socrates remains an enigma—both revered and misunderstood.
Plato’s Republic is a beast of a text—one of the most influential works in philosophy and political theory. It’s where he lays out his vision for the ideal state, justice, and the nature of reality itself. Written as a Socratic dialogue, the book follows Socrates in conversation with various Athenians, debating everything from morality to…