Teaching Plato in Translation
by Susan Gorman, Boston University
Original text © 2004 Susan Gorman
The Republic
Is this Republic possible? Does Socrates think so?
One of the most interesting questions about the Republic is whether or not these rules for a society can be applied to an actual community. Socrates himself does not concern himself with plausibility. In fact, he says:
"Then when we were discussing the nature of absolute justice and injustice – as well as the perfectly just man (supposing that he exists) and the completely unjust man – we were looking for ideals and patterns of instruction. We wanted to bring them into focus as models so that we might judge our own happiness or unhappiness according to the standards they set and according to the degree we reflect them. It was not our purpose to demonstrate the possibility of fully realizing these ideals." (St. 472c, S&S 164)
If Socrates is not concerned with the fact that these regulations may not be practical, what is the point of this text? Ask the students what they think about this assertion of whether this society would work. Or, give the students this passage and ask them to lead discussion based on it. Have students formulate questions about what literary, political and philosophical goals Plato would have for his text if not practical ones.
