The Republic Of Plato: Second Edition

Allan Bloom has created a literal translation that is ideal for those who truly wish to engage with Plato. Most other translators have used non-literal methods that attempt to convey in a more contemporary form what Plato "meant" by his arguments. However, in this process the translator's own interpretation of Plato's argument inevitably influences the language in which he renders his translation. Bloom has attempted, with a great degree of success, to separate the processes of translation and interpretation. Rather than imposing his reading on the text itself, he express it in a thought-provoking interpretive essay that follows the text

This is probably not the easiest translation of Plato to read, because Bloom does not attempt to serve as a baby-sitter for his readers. However, the extra time spent in reading this version will be well rewarded by a deeper understanding of Plato's argument.


The Republic has great value...in an INNER sense!   September 24, 2004
Jeff Potter (Williamston, MI United States)
32 out of 41 found this review helpful

Plato and Socrates were refering to the Soul in their work. Not to a literal Ruling Class or Soldierly Class. This is why the book still has value and freshness today. They're explicit about it, too. (An early mention in Bloom: "...First we'll investigate what justice is like in the cities. Then, we'll also go on to consider it in indivdiuals, considering the likeness of the bigger in the idea of the littler." / 369a.) In no way do they mean to suggest totalitarianism on earth, but that the Soul must develop a Ruling Element. It's astonishing how so many take spiritual work in a literal sense. The book only was written as a guide to developing the Soul. The ancients in particular worked from the inside out. Only confused modern minds could take the huge ALLEGORY of this great work as a literal recipe for a society on earth (then knock it as being communist, ant-like, scary or whatever). And it is as funny, lively, clever and compelling as anything written today. Well, more so, of course. Talk about ant-like: this work easily beats or at least informs the best of today's work. I suppose it's only natural that ants misunderstand their view of giants. They should work harder, not at being clever, but at getting a better view. It's not that hard! The Republic inspires as vividly as when it was written: the ultimate indicator of an eternal classic.


The only responsible way to read Plato   April 12, 2000
31 out of 43 found this review helpful

The Republic is a challenging, intricate, subtle work in which every word counts. This is why a "literal" translation is necessary -- a translation that truly reflects the Greek. Bloom's introduction, in which he defends this approach, is an excellent argument against paraphrasing translations, which water down Plato and make him easy and unsurprising. (One exception to Bloom's literality: he translates "hyon polis," 372d, as "city of sows" rather than the traditional "city of pigs." There is no justification for the female "sows" in the Greek, and I must assume that this is just Bloom's own chauvinist pigdom coming out.)

Bloom's interpretive essay presents his reading of the Republic as an implicit criticism of the thirst for absolute political justice. A plausible reading, but not as obvious as Bloom sometimes makes it sound. (To see the more subtle source of Bloom's ideas, read Leo Strauss's "The City and Man." And for a fictionalized portrait of Allan Bloom, see Saul Bellow's new novel, "Ravelstein.")


solid translation   November 13, 1999
27 out of 32 found this review helpful

For serious students of Plato (i.e. of philosophy) Bloom's translation is a must. Nowadays few can read Greek comfortably, and a translation that does not cheat the readers is needed. There is in fact a conspiracy in Anglo-american universities to prevent students from reading this particular translation, because Bloom was a student of Leo Strauss and the interpretative essay at the end of this translation is very much influenced by his teacher. You'd be surprised how many professors would list all the translations except this one on a syllabus. Well, without getting into a full explanation of the war on Strauss, let's just say that in a democracy such a disturbing practice is less effective than its practioners would expect. Bloom's translation has survived many years. (Gilbert Ryle, who trashed it in NY review of books, though still the major influence in some quarters, is being forgotten.) Conclusion? BUY THIS TRANSLATION AND READ IT.


For those willing to disagree   March 11, 2003
Sobeit (Rocheford, SD)
23 out of 37 found this review helpful

So you've asked some of the tough questions. You've questioned your teachers, you've questioned your parents, you've questioned yourself (you never thought to ask your boss), but no one seems to know--and you want answers. The Republic is not the book for you to read--unless you're willing to try to arrive at your own conclusions.

What is Justice? Minding one's own business, of course. If only Socrates had come upon this idea when he was young, the rest of us might have been spared all the torment. In the "Republic," however, he comes upon this conclusion before we are1/3 of the way through the book, and before the real summit of the dialogue. So, with regard to the fact that Socrates seems to be disobeying his own advice (being patently unjust), what could he mean by his definition of justice?

Why is life, your life--your only life, perhaps,--best led in pursuit and obeyance of reason? Why not something else? What else is there to pursue/obey? What's the difference between a poet/artist and a philosopher? Don't the artists have a better time? Should a ruler lie to his/her constituents? His/her children? How important is family? What is inherent in a person? What isn't? How much control do we have and how should we use what we have? What political structure would be best for people? Do the ends justify the means, especially if no one sees the means? Is Justice good in itself? Like dancing or great love making? And is Justice good for its consequences? How should I live my life? Why? Why? WHY???

How do we begin to understand our place in the world?? How do we begin to understand the world??

The Republic will not answer any of these questions for you--unless you believe everything your parents told you. But this book will help you to understand much more closely what you believe about all of these questions and many more. It will encourage you to come up with reasons of your own for your opinions. And it will point out some starting points for the last couple questions.

How can someone give The Republic 3 stars? You just press a button, move the mouse, and press it again. I'd give it 5 stars if I thought that anyone would reconsider reading the book because they saw that the average review was a mere 4 1/2 stars. But, of course, it will only get the number of readers that any other great but difficult book gets--not enough.

Is Bloom's translation the only responsible way to read The Republic? No. It would be entirely possible to read the book in greek without reading it responsibly. The only truly responsible way to read the Republic is to read it attentively with the use of all of one's faculties. Whether you agree or disagree with each question/statement is of paramount importance, as is the relation between your tentative conclusions. The difficulty of reading responsibly, however, fatigues even professional scholars whose reputations are on the line (although that may not be the most important of wagers). Luckily, one of the beauties of the Republic is that it really does cater to every level of engagement, except non-engagement, and tries to stimulate each person to further thought.

The Republic will not be too much for you. Or, rather, it will be too much, but that only means you're human. And, though it will challenge your beliefs and opinions, shock--even scare--you, and throw much of your clarity and order into confusion, I believe you will be a better person for having honestly asked these questions. And that you will become better by trying to answer them.

Life demands that you live by your answers to these questions and many more like them. They are worth asking.

Plus, the overall structure of the ideas contains a beauty seldom seen in any human creation.

Altogether, a really good book. A life changer.