Plato's Republic, Book Two | Justice vs Injustice and the Ideal City

In this third instalment of the series on Plato's Republic, we will be diving into Book 2 of The Republic!

The lecture explores the foundational questions posed by Glaucon and Adeimantus about the nature of justice and its value compared to injustice, Glaucon's myth of 'the ring of Gyges' and its implications on human behaviour are discussed, along with the comparison to Tolkien's narrative in 'The Lord of the Rings'. The video also examines the formation of the ideal city, Kallipolis, as an analogy for justice and the psyche. It concludes with insights into the educational program for the guardian class and Plato's critique of poets like Homer.

Watch the video below for a deep dive into one of philosophy's most enduring texts 👇

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Course Overview

00:25 Main Themes of Book Two

01:12 Glaucon's Challenge and the Nature of Goods

03:10 The Ring of Gyges and Ethical Relativism

10:34 The Ideal City and the Role of Guardians

19:06 Education and the Role of Stories

23:34 Conclusion and Next Steps

Introduction episode:

Book One: