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Quick answer: If you read Plato's Republic, read his Apology and Symposium, Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics and Politics, and Machiavelli's The Prince. Together they show how ancient and early modern thinkers imagined justice, power and the good life.
Plato's Republic is a dialogue about justice, the ideal city and the soul, including the famous allegory of the cave. It is a cornerstone of Western philosophy. The books below continue the conversation, from other Plato works to later political thinkers, plus some accessible modern guides.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apology | Plato | Adult | Socrates on trial |
| Symposium | Plato | Adult | love and beauty |
| Gorgias | Plato | Adult | rhetoric and power |
| Nicomachean Ethics | Aristotle | Adult | the good life |
| Politics | Aristotle | Adult | different states |
| The Prince | Niccolo Machiavelli | Adult | realist politics |
| Utopia | Thomas More | Adult | imaginary society |
| Leviathan | Thomas Hobbes | Adult | social contract |
| The Social Contract | Jean-Jacques Rousseau | Adult | popular sovereignty |
| On Liberty | John Stuart Mill | Adult | freedom and tolerance |
| A Theory of Justice | John Rawls | Adult | modern justice |
| Meditations | Marcus Aurelius | Adult | Stoic reflection |
| Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do? | Michael J. Sandel | Adult | accessible modern guide |
| Sophie's World | Jostein Gaarder | Teen | philosophy as story |
| History of the Peloponnesian War | Thucydides | Adult | ancient politics |
1. Apology by Plato
Socrates defends himself against charges of corrupting the youth. Short, vivid and a good starter dialogue.
Best for: Socrates on trial.
2. Symposium by Plato
Guests at a dinner party give speeches about love. Witty and memorable, including Aristophanes' myth of split halves.
Best for: love and beauty.
3. Gorgias by Plato
Socrates debates whether persuasion is more important than truth. Sharp and still relevant.
Best for: rhetoric and power.
4. Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle
Aristotle explores virtue, happiness and character. Clear and influential, and a natural next read.
Best for: the good life.
5. Politics by Aristotle
Aristotle analyses constitutions and citizenship. A practical counterpart to Plato's ideal city.
Best for: different states.
6. The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli
A short manual on how rulers gain and keep power. Blunt and provocative.
Best for: realist politics.
7. Utopia by Thomas More
A traveller describes a perfectly organised island. Witty, strange and a founding utopia.
Best for: imaginary society.
8. Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes
Hobbes argues that people need a strong ruler to avoid chaos. Dense but foundational.
Best for: social contract.
9. The Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Rousseau argues that legitimate government rests on the general will. Influential and challenging.
Best for: popular sovereignty.
10. On Liberty by John Stuart Mill
A classic defence of individual freedom. Short and readable.
Best for: freedom and tolerance.
11. A Theory of Justice by John Rawls
Rawls proposes a fair society designed behind a veil of ignorance. Long but deeply influential.
Best for: modern justice.
12. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
The Roman emperor's private notes on how to live. Practical and calm.
Best for: Stoic reflection.
13. Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do? by Michael J. Sandel
Sandel introduces moral and political philosophy through lively examples. A good gateway.
Best for: accessible modern guide.
14. Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder
A girl receives mysterious letters about philosophy. A fun, narrative introduction.
Best for: philosophy as story.
15. History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides
The war between Athens and Sparta, told by a participant. Essential background for Plato's world.
Best for: ancient politics.
How to Choose
Begin with Plato's Apology if you want something short. For a modern, friendly introduction choose Sandel's Justice or Sophie's World. For ethics and politics read Aristotle. For political realism try The Prince. For the long conversation about the best society, read Utopia, Hobbes, Rousseau and Rawls in that order. Translation matters, so pick an edition with notes, and expect to reread difficult passages. Read in the order that keeps you curious. Many readers begin with the Apology, then move to the Symposium before attempting the Republic itself. A study guide or a good podcast can help with unfamiliar names and terms. It is perfectly fine to read selected books of the Republic first, such as Book 7 with the allegory of the cave.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Republic about?
Justice, the ideal city and the nature of the soul, in a dialogue led by Socrates.
When was it written?
Around 375 BCE.
What is the allegory of the cave?
A famous passage in which prisoners mistake shadows for reality, used to explain education and truth.
Is it hard to read?
It can be challenging, but good translations make it accessible.
What translation should I choose?
Look for a translation with an introduction and notes, such as those from Penguin or Oxford.
Should I read it first or something shorter?
Many readers start with the Apology.
Is it still relevant?
Yes, its questions about power, education and justice still shape modern debate.
What should I read next?
Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics is a common next step.
Is the Republic a book of politics or ethics?
Both. It argues about justice in the city and in the individual soul.
Are there free translations?
Older translations are in the public domain, but modern ones are usually clearer.
Are there easier books on the same topics?
Yes. Sandel's Justice and Sophie's World are friendly modern introductions.
Should I read it in order with Plato's other works?
Not necessarily, though the Apology and Symposium make good companions.