It seems as though most people have lost interest in this thread, but if there's no one out there who minds I'll start it up myself. I'll post an general overview this week. And next week begin a chapter by chapter synopsis. If anyone has any comments (or better ideas, this is only my interpretation) to add please do. Or if you like leave any questions at my house. Anyway here goes

The Republic falls into Plato's middle period of writings, ie Socrates is still the central character, but Plato is using him as a mouth-piece for his own ideas rather than to honour him. The death of Socrates however echoes throughout the book with one of the main points being that it is better to suffer wrong doings than to commit them, especially if you are not punished for them. ie Socrates by being put to death by the state is in a better situation than those who sentenced him.

This is not the only issue at stake in the book. It starts with a discussion on Justice and "The Good" or how to be just and how to lead a good life. To explain the just soul, Socrates(Plato) begins by describing the just city, so later it can be scaled down into the just soul. It is important, I think, that when examining Socrates(Plato's) interpretation of the just city to look to how it relates to the just soul as well.

Well, what makes a just city? You need workers, obviously, and auxilaries to defend the city and also guardians or rulers of the city. Each part of the city must know its role and keep to its role otherwise there will be disorder. In the tripartate just soul, there are obviously three parts: the appetitive part (the workers), the spirited part (the auxilaries) and the rational part (the guardians). For a just soul all must be working in harmony. NB If anyone knows their Freud, he was a big fan of the Classics and developed the theory of the Tripartite soul into the theory of the Id, the Ego and the Superego.
Socrates goes on to describe the working of the city: the laws, how the citizens should be educated, what sort of music and poetry they should hear, family-systems and how to make sure the guardians are not corrupted. One of the reasons he believes they will not be is because they are the wisest of the population and they understand the Forms. This is the hardest concept, I think, to explain in Platonic theory, but I will give it a go. However I will go into more detail at a later date. I will just use one analogy, there are plenty more in the book. Basically a flower can be beautiful, as can a building or a person. However the way that the building is beautiful is not the same way that the flower is beautiful or the person is beautiful. In stead they all share in part of the eternal idea or Form of "Beautiful". This is something unchanging, and will and has existed forever. Plato himself said that the forms are not yet fully understood by man so you will have to excuse my poor attempt to explain them, I will be more coherent when I can explain in more detail.

The theory of the form is explained in a variety of ways to help understand why the guardians would be happy with their role, but also to explain why, in an ideal state the philosopher should rule. Socrates goes on to explain the break down from this ideal state into different sorts of states (because hey, nobody's perfect). He then explains why he is not afraid of death, because he has led a just life. (Back again to Plato's bitterness at Socrates' trial)

The book then finishes with Socrates explaining a myth about what happens after death. When examining ancient texts, I find it useful to consider why certain texts have survived, The Republic, although it is pagan philosophy has probably survived due to this myth, for it fits in nicely with the Christian ideas of heaven and hell. After all, monks are not going to save any philosophy that suggests a wild hedonistic lifestyle.

The Republic is an important book to examine, it has influenced both Communism and Facism, been supported by Christians and by Freud. All in all it makes a good read. I will put up a post about book one during next week. Any comments, thoughts, suggestions or questions on this or on book one would be great.

Cheers