When you first pick up the world's most famous work of philosophy, Plato's Republic, you might be surprised to find that it starts with Socrates describing a day trip he took with his friend Glaucon to check out a festival happening just outside Athens. Where are the syllogisms? Where is the metaphysics? It does not seem very grand, at least at first.

Colin Redemer joins the podcast to kick off part 1 of a 10-episode series on Plato's Republic, to give some suggestions for how to read Plato, and to walk through the various definitions of justice we encounter in Book 1 of The Republic. In Book 1, we encounter a large cast engaged in discussion with Socrates about this very question. Is justice returning to others what you owe them? Benefitting friends and harming enemies? The advantage of the stronger?

H.I. Marrou's A History of Education in Antiquity: https://bookshop.org/a/25626/9780299088149

Plato's Republic (trans. Allan Bloom): https://bookshop.org/a/25626/9780465094080

Davenant Press's Reforming Classical Education: https://davenantinstitute.org/davenant-press/reforming-classical-education/

Austin Hoffman's review of Reforming Classical Education: https://www.frontporchrepublic.com/2023/02/awkward-family-dinner-a-review-of-reforming-classical-education/

Colin Redemer's response to Austin Hoffman: https://adfontesjournal.com/web-exclusives/revisiting-platonic-education-the-ever-sharable-feast/

James Baldwin's The Fire Next Time: https://bookshop.org/a/25626/9780679744726

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Music: Save Us Now by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

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