Hi I am going to tell the story of Plato and his story The Republic.  This classic and telling story of the birth of Democracy and Political Philosophy is set around the nature of life in Athens at the time. For Plato, who was in a position of political and economic power, took the opportunity to write on the nature and characteristics of Athens in the 4th century BC. Plato produces a picture of Athens’s political environment, as well as the philosophical issues of all societies.  These issues and their importance, have neither changed in two and half thousand years, nor gone away.

He wrote Plato's Republic as a tribute to his friend Socrates, who he respected above all men and for whom he felt, had been killed, due to his desire to see his most respected friend, take an active role in the government of Athens at the time.

To set the scene to the character of this brilliant book and story, you are to follow its narrative approach, which Plato deliberately sets out to do, to support the reader.  As a result of his overwhelming pain, for the lose of his companion Socrates, who shared much of Plato's development of understanding of knowledge and ideas. Whilst there is no work by Socrates recorded, his importance in Philosophy and approach has left its mark in time.

I'll now set the scene. As Plato, picks up a subject for debate, he then bring together his group of advocates, who play their role in the various perspectives to the object under discussion. Plato sets them their position within the object or subject under evaluation. 

The setting to this book could be compared to a Shakespearian play.  This allows for complicated positions to be held distinctly apart, as each plays their role, as the story unfolds. Due to the complexity of the object under consideration, Plato makes great use of his pride and value in Socrates, by setting his position quite strategically in the position of affirmation (an assertion of truth). Using Socrates’ approach of refutation (an argument, statement, or evidence that proves a claim to be wrong). Which means, that as the object is defined for example, Faith, the debate takes on the process of its qualification. Using the views of the individual’s description or view of Faith, from which to begin the process of tracking down its constituent parts and character.
 

The humour  in the exchanges, whilst subtle, in there delivery are there for those who don’t skim over the text, but, with the same attention to detail that you might afford  an interesting group of speakers you have paid good money to listen too.  Whilst I do not profess to having the skills required to deliver this book’s art of delivery.  I will be able to give those, who will say, "I will get the book" and don’t, an introduction to the story, slightly infected with my personal thoughts at times and hopefully with a good degree of accuracy and sprinkle some witticism.

If at any point you feel the erdge to pass a comment or ask question , just jump in. The experience needs to be, one of shared enjoyment, on what should be labelled as a serious subject.

Tags: authority, family, freedom, government, hope, knowledge, life, obligations, philosophy, power, rights