• Plato's Republic

  • By: Plato
  • Narrated by: Ray Childs
  • Length: 11 hrs and 46 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (1,517 ratings)

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Plato's Republic

By: Plato
Narrated by: Ray Childs
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Publisher's summary

The Republic poses questions that endure: What is justice? What form of community fosters the best possible life for human beings? What is the nature and destiny of the soul? What form of education provides the best leaders for a good republic? What are the various forms of poetry and the other arts, and which ones should be fostered and which ones should be discouraged? How does knowing differ from believing?

Several characters in the dialogue present a variety of tempting answers to those questions. Cephalus, Polemarchus, Thrasymachus, and Glaucon all offer definitions of justice. Socrates, Glaucon, and Adeimantus explore five different forms of republic and evaluate the merits of each from the standpoint of goodness.

Two contrasting models of education are proposed and examined. Three different forms of poetry are identified and analyzed. The difference between knowing and believing is discussed in relation to the objects of each kind of thinking.

© Agora Publications

Public Domain (P)2015 Agora, New Internet Technologies

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BEWARE: shortened version

It was read well, but beware this is not a full reading of the Republic. It gets the main arguments across, but it leaves out lines including some of the more historically famous lines.

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30 people found this helpful

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A great way to enjoy The Republic

I've read Plato's Republic about a half dozen times over the course of my life. This audible version brought out many great things I never noticed before. Fantastic.

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Benjamin Jowett Translation, Ray Childs Narration

If you could sum up Plato's Republic in three words, what would they be?
Know Thy Self

What other book might you compare Plato's Republic to and why?
The Republic is probably an amalgam of all the Socratic dialogues rolled into one. The goal here, as in other Socratic dialogues, is not to establish a dogmatic system, but to take the reader/listener on a philosophical journey to consider classic questions in a fully human sort of way. Humanist and other terms like this become more clear when you consider what it is to be fully human.

Socrates was certainly trying to explore what it is to be more fully human, and the natural role of virtue and philosophy in the quest to become more fully achieved as a human being. In this particular dialogue, that takes the form of considering the ideal human being and comparing that to the ideal state ("the Republic"), and seeing the ways in which these are not really different things, as each is evident in the other. The state is evident in each individual citizen and each individual citizen is evident in some way within the manifestations of the state.

In the Republic, however, the ideal may be less a static ideal than a journey toward questioning and public discourse. I think that can be the only real "goal" of this text if read carefully enough. Many arguments which Socrates seems to be making are quickly and casually cast aside. This should be taken as a clue that Socrates is not pre-determined on a set destination but rather a discourse that is rather open-ended. I do believe that the end goal is simply to allow us the readers/listeners to become more thoughtful and considerate beings, to acknowledge the importance of balance and harmony as the ancients reportedly did.

It is noteworthy here, as elsewhere that Plato's Socrates often refers to Homer as a corrupting force, interested in telling exciting, juicy tales rather than improving the soul of Man, which Socrates claims is of the utmost importance for a great storyteller. It is only in this vein that he sometimes explores the possibility of creating "noble lies" that could help to create better human beings who steer clear of vices and toward virtue.

Have you listened to any of Ray Childs’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
There are more difficult patches early on where it proved to me the value of sitting in a quiet comfortable place to concentrate fully on this seminal text concerning Public Discourse which becomes important throughout all later Continental (and especially German Idealist) philosophy.

In general, Childs is a rather loving narrator. He doesn't rush except when he is trying to fully bring to the surface the passion of his understanding of the dialogue in play.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I know I always tend to become more reflective when I engage a Socratic dialogue. No laughing or crying so much as an appreciation of the ancient Greeks after Socrates. They thought so sanely and deeply about the true nature and impulses at work in the manifestations of virtue and vice. All Socratic-influenced schools seem to me to be the core of what philosophy is supposed to be, an activity that makes one better, stronger, more focused, more alive. Tonic for the spirit, soother of the soul.

Any additional comments?
TRANSLATION INFO:

A Plato scholar has informed me that this is the
Benjamin Jowett translation, revised by Albert A. Anderson.

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Spectacular

What a wonderful performance - infused by the excitement, energy, and wit of real conversation. The actors do a wonderful job of bringing the book, and its subtle interlocking chains of argument, to life. A first-rate performance of one of the world's greatest books. I'll be listening to this one again.

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Timeless wisdom

To understand the present sometimes you have to seek out the wisdom of the past. While this may have been written 2500 years ago it shows that the human condition truly is cyclical and that human nature doesn't evolve as much as it revolves around a few core precepts. If we are to protect our way of life we need more people who will seek wisdom for the love of wisdom. It is only through these true philosophers that our societies can reach there fullest potential.

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best translation ever

I'm really enjoying this translation and the way it's been presented here with a cast of characters. It really helps to hear this as a dialogue.

I'm wondering if anyone might know who the translator was for this edition? I've checked out a few and so far, no luck. Allan Bloom seems to be the most recent as far as I've found, but that one's not it either.

anyone?

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Timeless

It's amazing how relevant the discussion is to the issues of today. I found myself constantly being able to relate to the arguments and apply the resolutions to my own personal questions of justice and the rule of man. The performance was captivating! It was more of a discussion than a story and each of the men had a different actor which made me feel as if I was sitting in the room with them. Overall I feel much wiser after listening and know these conclusions will strengthen my soul.

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Great Book and great narration

Really enjoyed the narration. I especially like the background cheers and laughters, it made listening to this book more enjoyable for me.

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Great reading- surprisingly lacking content

I was surprised to find that I - and most modern readers - completely disagreed with most of what was said in this book. I found the arguments to be deeply flawed. I much enjoyed the other dialogues I have read more. I would still recommend this book on a historical basis.

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A great well performed book

I liked the voices and the lessons in this book and I'm sure I will read it again someday .

It was performed in a very understandable way.

The only thing I didn't like is the lack of an outline to the 10 books

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