Brief Summary of Book IV
Book IV is an intriguing chapter of the Republic. The book begins with Socrates (the main character in Book IV) stating that justice can only be found in a happy and content city. He then continues on to describe, in detail, the aspects of this perfectly happy city, the City in Speech. He stresses the themes of equality and moderation in everything. Socrates proceeds by telling Adeimantus (the second primary character in this book) that this city must have four virtues: it must be wise, courageous, temperate, and just. After thoroughly illustrating the Four Virtues, and proclaiming his closest definition of justice, Socrates embarks on making the connection between a man's soul and the city, with a special emphasis on the Four Virtues of the city. Book IV wraps up with Socrates and Adeimantus debating the differences and qualities of justice versus injustice. |
A Funny Take on the Characters (above)
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Biography of Socrates
Socrates never wrote anything, because he thought knowledge was a living, interactive thing. Plato, a student of Socrates, wrote everything we know about Socrates today, including the Socratic dialogues in the Republic.
The reason Socrates is held to be one of the wisest people of all time is because he realized how much he did not know. When the Oracle at Delphi was questioned about who was the wisest man in Hellenes, she claimed it was Socrates. In response to this, Socrates spent his life trying to prove the Oracle wrong. How can I be the wisest man in Greece, he thought, if I know nothing? Socrates would question people, and they would answer him, only to get another question. People would get frustrated when they realized they didn't know as much as they thought they did on a subject.
Socrates, a poor, ugly, old man, was considered to be no more than a pest. However, he was an extremely wise old man, and his teachings were the foundations for Western philosophy.
Biography of Plato
Plato was a key Greek philosopher. Teachings of Plato have been among the most influential in the history of Western civilization.
*Life*
Starting in 407 B.C., after pursuing the liberal studies of his day, Plato became a pupil and friend of Socrates. Starting at about 388 B.C., he lived for a time at the court of Dionysius the Elder, tyrant of Syracuse. On his return to Athens, Plato founded a school, the Academy, where he taught mathematics and philosophy until his death. His teaching was interrupted by two more visits to Syracuse (367 and 361 B.C.), which he made in the vain hope of seeing his political ideals realized in Sicily.
*Works and Philosophy*
Plato was a superb writer, and his works are part of the great world of literature. His extant work is in the form of dialogues and epistles. Some of the dialogues and many of the epistles attributed to him are known to be spurious, while others are doubtful. In his various dialogues, Plato touched on almost every problem that has occupied subsequent philosophers. The dialogues are divided into three groups according to the probable order of composition. |
Socrates
469-399 B.C.
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