Plato and the City

Plato's political philosophy is one of the most controversial facets of ancient thought. Because of its wide influence on the political thought of the last century, most of Plato's ideas are still under debate and he is seen either as the origin of totalitarian movements or as the predecessor of the current rule of law and the father of western democracy. If the evaluation of Plato's different political proposals has been the object of contradictory interpretations, his own appreciation of the existing political systems creates a matter of many historical debates, too. This volume treats different aspects of Plato's conflicting relationship to the city-state. It presents original approaches to Plato's reflections on the city and his problems.