Book Club: Plato’s Republic (Part II: Allegory of the Cave)

On Saturday, 8th of August, we’ll continue our two-part discussion of Plato’s Republic, one of the most influential works in the history of philosophy. In this second session, we’ll focus on Books VI–X.

In these final books, Plato presents some of his most famous ideas. We’ll discuss the philosopher-king, the Theory of Forms, and the Allegory of the Cave, before turning to Plato’s account of education, the decline of political systems from aristocracy to tyranny, his arguments for why the just life is happier than the unjust one, his critique of poetry, and the Myth of Er.

Many of these ideas continue to shape philosophy, politics, and education today. What distinguishes knowledge from opinion? Why is truth so often resisted? Can democracy give rise to tyranny? Is justice valuable in itself, or only because of its consequences? What role should art play in society?

Let’s discuss!

Plato (c. 428–348 BCE) was an ancient Greek philosopher and a student of Socrates. He founded the Academy in Athens, one of the earliest institutions of higher learning in the Western world. Through his dialogues, Plato explored enduring questions about knowledge, morality, politics, beauty, and the good life, profoundly influencing philosophy, science, and political thought for more than two millennia.

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Anyone is welcome to join! No background in philosophy is needed. Before the meeting, please read Books VI–X of the Republic, think about them, and note any passages you find especially interesting, challenging, or worth discussing.

If you didn’t attend our first session, you’re still very welcome to join. Simply familiarize yourself with the main ideas from Books I–V by reading the summary on Wikipedia or elsewhere before the discussion.

Organizational notes:
📍 Attendance is free
⏳ Spots are limited
🔗 Please register via the app so we know how many people to expect and can reserve a table accordingly