A most influential work of philosophy and political theory ever written, Plato’s Republic features Socrates engaging in dialogues on justice, the ideal state, and the nature of the human soul, laying the foundation for Western philosophical thought.

Through a series of thought-provoking arguments, Plato explores the meaning of justice—both in the individual and in society—by envisioning a perfectly just city, Kallipolis, governed by philosopher-kings. He introduces the Allegory of the Cave, a metaphor for enlightenment and ignorance, and the Theory of Forms, which suggests that the physical world is only a shadow of a higher reality. The dialogue also presents the tripartite soul, the role of education, and the controversial concept of the “noble lie.”

Part political manifesto, part ethical treatise, and part metaphysical exploration, The Republic challenges readers to examine the structures of power, morality, and knowledge that shape their lives.