This
classic, in the true sense of the word, was written by Plato some time after
the execution of his admired narrator, Socrates, in 399BC. The supposed
dramatic setting for the narrative is around 420BC.
Taking
the form of a discussion between Socrates and friends, the work is a
philosophical treatise founded on the theme of justice. It touches, along the
way, many other aspects of life and thought and can be seen to be a foundation
stone in the building of Western thought, politics and ideas.
That
Plato wrote in an era when slavery was not only accepted but was an everyday
normality, and where women were perceived as inferior beings, permeates the
text for a modern reader. There are many places where I felt like grabbing the
narrator, and his fellow conversationalists, by the metaphorical lapels and
shaking them out of their complacency over these two issues. But that is more a
reflection of my attitudes about these issues than of the quality of the
writing.
I
started reading this tome, which requires a good deal of concentration, before
Xmas and the season rather interrupted the serious read. But I became
determined to finish the book before starting on the editing of the novel I'd
written the preceding November (NaNoWriMo challenge for those interested). The
reason was that it immediately became clear that The Republic deals with many of the themes I included in my novel
and I wanted to see what this seminal work had to say on these ideas.
The
ideas expressed are remarkably contemporary in many cases. I was surprised by
references to personality, character, political systems and religion that I'd
previously considered to be relatively modern. There were times when I
completely forgot that this book was written almost 2,500 years ago.
What
I found most disturbing, however, were some of the theories and philosophical
ideas that have clearly been responsible for the way we think and live today in
the Western world. That some of these ideas have been distorted, misunderstood,
partially comprehended or, in some cases, deliberately taken out of context, to
justify certain modern political decisions became clearer as I read. I
understood, for the first time, some of the classical references I've come
across in life and many of the underlying reasons for our current way of life
became obvious. It's clear that many of our current leaders are steeped in the
arguments put forward in this narrative. The teaching of the classics is, of
course, fundamental to the education supplied by most private schools. That it
isn't generally included in the curricula of state schools is equally clear. I'm
not a lover of conspiracy theory, but it's difficult to avoid the conclusion
that there has been a deliberate policy of discouraging the reading of such
books as this, lest the general populace become aware of what leaders have
always known.
It's
impossible to do justice to this text in the space of a simple review. I can
only suggest that those who have the intellectual stamina and the necessary
curiosity about the nature of thought and life read this book. There is much
that the modern reader will deplore, disagree with and denigrate. The benefit
of living long after the work was completed provides us with a greater
understanding of many things that must have been mysteries to Plato and his
contemporaries. But the fundamentals of his thesis on politics, rule and the
actions of leaders and the general populace are sound.
Those
who love the superficial and the easy will find this book indigestible but
those who like depth, provocation of the grey cells and stimulus for the
imagination and curiosity will find this a singularly rewarding read. I
thoroughly recommend it.
