The Republic

Plato (circa 427-347 BCE) stands as an emblematic figure in the landscape of Western philosophy. A student of Socrates and a mentor to Aristotle, Plato's contributions laid foundational stones for Western political theory, metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics. Born into an aristocratic Athenian family, he was expected to pursue a career in politics; however, the execution of Socrates in 399 BCE p...