Short Synopsis
Deftly weaving three main strands of argument into an artistic whole—the ethical and political, the aesthetic and mystical, and the metaphysical—one of the West's greatest philosophers explores the elements of the ideal community, where morality can be achieved in a balance of wisdom, courage, and restraint.

Full Synopsis
"What is at stake is far from insignificant: it is how one should live one's life."

Plato's The Republic is widely acknowledged as the cornerstone of Western philosophy. Presented in the form of a dialogue between Socrates and three different interlocutors, it is an inquiry into the notion of a perfect community and the ideal individual within it. During the conversation, other questions are raised: What is goodness? What is reality? What is knowledge? The Republic also addresses the purpose of education and the roles of both women and men as "guardians" of the people. With remarkable lucidity and deft use of allegory, Plato arrives at a depiction of a state bound by harmony and ruled by "philosopher kings."