Reading together
Plato's REPUBLIC
Plato's most famous work and one of the most important books ever written on the subject of philosophy and political theory, "The Republic" is a fictional dialogue between Socrates and other various Athenians and foreigners which examines the meaning of justice.
Written in approximately 380 BC [+ 2015 = 2,395 years ago!], "The Republic" also discusses Plato's "Theory of Forms", the nature of the philosopher, the conflict between philosophy and poetry, and the immortality of the soul.
An essential read for any student of philosophy or political science, "The Republic" is a monumental work of antiquity, which forms the foundation for much of our modern policy.
Written in approximately 380 BC [+ 2015 = 2,395 years ago!], "The Republic" also discusses Plato's "Theory of Forms", the nature of the philosopher, the conflict between philosophy and poetry, and the immortality of the soul.
An essential read for any student of philosophy or political science, "The Republic" is a monumental work of antiquity, which forms the foundation for much of our modern policy.
- Amazon
Several reasons lead me now to share my thoughts on and recommendation for this classic The Republic by Plato.
First, at a recent regional conference, I met a very amiable high-ranking official who with contained enthusiasm showed me the stack of political science books in the English language he had purchased en route at the airport bookstore. "I always make a point of purchasing books related to politics whenever I travel." In his post, he travels often.
His English proficiency came from his one-year study in Australia on scholarship given out by the embassy based in Phnom Penh.
Second, surrounding the July 2013 elections, many conversations abuzzed and numerous local articles in the Khmer language quoted politicians quoting and referencing a "Sammok" character from a Chinese film series dubbed in Khmer shown on television as their political model.
Third, over the years of living in Cambodia and even growing up with my Cambodian relatives in the United States, I picked up countless philosophical musings offered by Cambodians as profound new concepts that no one but they, as Cambodians who have lived through a certain number of experiences of particular endurance, can possibly understand.
No matter that I am also a Cambodian who has endured a certain number and length of experiences. And no matter, that I have read broadly and even more intensely in my formal education on these subject matters.
In all, I am reminded of Solomon's wisdom, that there's nothing new under the sun and that many wise men and women have come before us who have thought deeply, systematically about and articulated these ideas of which our immature musings are dusty, dim, grainy reflections, oftentimes incoherent.
I first encountered The Republic in 1991, my first year at Georgetown University's Philosophy 101 course (24 years ago!).
We will go through the 10 books which make up The Republic, book by book each Saturday (beginning today).
First, at a recent regional conference, I met a very amiable high-ranking official who with contained enthusiasm showed me the stack of political science books in the English language he had purchased en route at the airport bookstore. "I always make a point of purchasing books related to politics whenever I travel." In his post, he travels often.
His English proficiency came from his one-year study in Australia on scholarship given out by the embassy based in Phnom Penh.
Second, surrounding the July 2013 elections, many conversations abuzzed and numerous local articles in the Khmer language quoted politicians quoting and referencing a "Sammok" character from a Chinese film series dubbed in Khmer shown on television as their political model.
Third, over the years of living in Cambodia and even growing up with my Cambodian relatives in the United States, I picked up countless philosophical musings offered by Cambodians as profound new concepts that no one but they, as Cambodians who have lived through a certain number of experiences of particular endurance, can possibly understand.
No matter that I am also a Cambodian who has endured a certain number and length of experiences. And no matter, that I have read broadly and even more intensely in my formal education on these subject matters.
In all, I am reminded of Solomon's wisdom, that there's nothing new under the sun and that many wise men and women have come before us who have thought deeply, systematically about and articulated these ideas of which our immature musings are dusty, dim, grainy reflections, oftentimes incoherent.
I first encountered The Republic in 1991, my first year at Georgetown University's Philosophy 101 course (24 years ago!).
We will go through the 10 books which make up The Republic, book by book each Saturday (beginning today).
Here, to whet your appetite, we start with the famous Allegory of the Cave. (Do read both versions.)
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