Stefanus page reference precedes each question

BOOK 1

(327) Read this first book as you would a play. Who are the characters and what are their roles? What is the dramatic situation being created--what topics are discussed right off?

(327c) What are they threatening to force Socrates into?

(328e) What is Socrates interested in?

(329) What does Cephalus think about sex and old age?

(330) What's the value of wealth?

(331) Note definition of justice.

(331d) What happens to Cephalus?

(332) Problems with the definition?

(332d) Note new version of the definition.

(333) Note the use of analogies to arts.  What is unique about each?

(335) What is the problem with the most recent definition of justice?

(335) Can justice harm?

(336) What does Thrasymachus think of this discussion and of Socrates?

(337d) What does Thrasymachus want?

(338c) What is the definition offered by Thrasymachus?

(339b) What problems with the definition does Socrates uncover?

(340c) The reply of Thrasymachus?

(340d) Note return to analogies to the unique attributes of different arts.

(341c) What role does money making play in the arts?

(342) Whose interest must the art of ruling consider?

(343) How does Thrasymachus  try to use the methods of Socrates against him? How does Thrasymachus change his argument?

(346) Note how each art must have a distinct function.

(347) And that it can't be what?

What kind of payment will be needed for the just to rule?

How does Thrasymachus measure justice & injustice?

What does Thrasymachus think of justice?

What is the analogy between the just man and a good musician?

Do thieves require justice?

Can individuals tolerate injustice within themselves?

What remains incomplete in Socrates' argument in favor of justice?

How do we determine the function of a thing?

Did Socrates complete his argument in a satisfactory manner?

BOOK 2

What kind of good is justice?

What definition of justice does Glaucon offer?

(359c) What's the point of the analogy of the ring of Gyges, and Glaucon's speech?

Why do people desire the appearance of Justice?

What is the view off justice offered by the poets?

(369) What is this analogy to reading letters? Why do they decide to look for injustice in an imaginary state?

What will determine the size of the state?

(372) Where is justice & injustice to be found?

Why does Glaucon call this a city of pigs? What else is needed?

What new class of citizens will a larger city require?

Why not use ordinary citizens for soldiers?

(375) What qualities does the guardian need to share with the guard dog? Keep track of the qualities a guardian requires throughout this book.

What kind of knowledge do they require?

(376) What topic do they need to spend some time on?

What are the guardians first set of studies?

What is being censored and why?

How will God be represented?

(382) What is the difference between a normal lie and a true lie?

BOOK 3

Who gets to lie? For what purpose?

What is the issue over imitation?

What is the theme of the training in song for the guardians?

What is Platonic love? How are the guardians allowed to love? Why?

What kind of physical training will the guardians receive? What kind of lifestyle will they have?

Why must they only roast their meat?

What do lawyers and doctors signify about the health of the state?

How will the best doctors and judges come by their knowledge?

How is the philosopher described?

What is the Myth of the Metals?

How will the guardians live?

BOOK 4

What is the objection of Adeimantus?

How does Socrates respond?

How well will the city fare in warfare?

What will limit the growth of the city?

What must be defended above all?

What are the four virtues of the City? Where is each, including justice, to be found?

Here it is!

How does this translate to the just individual?

Why is justice more profitable?

Note new topic which is quickly set aside.

BOOK 5

What is the challenge of Polemarchus?

How willing is Socrates to discuss it?

What is the first radical proposal (wave)?

What is the point of the analogy to bald/hairy men?

What is the second wave?

How will the children be raised?

How will children be introduced to guardian training?

What happens to cowardly guardians?

Will there be rules of warfare?

What is the third wave?

What is Glaucon's response?

How is a philosopher to be identified? What characteristics will a philosopher have?

Note distinction between opinion and knowledge.

BOOK 6

Compare the philosophers to the guardians.

(488) What is the analogy of the ship's pilot?

Why are there so few true philosophers?

How are Sophists described here?

How will the true philosopher be treated?

What will be the tendency for philosophers to do?

How will the philosophers be educated?

What higher knowledge must the philosopher pursue?

(507) Note the analogy to sight and the sun.

(509) Note the analogy of the line and the division of studies that follows from it.

BOOK 7

The analogy of the cave is the most important of all in the Republic. Study it in detail.

What is the specific sequence of studies prescribed for the philosopher? Why is each topic studied and why in the order lais down?

What is the dialectic? What will be learned from it?

How will philosopher-candidates be chosen?

What is the danger of the dialectic?

What follows education in the dialectic before the philosopher becomes ruler?

Note the discussion on the role of women.

BOOK 8

What do you think? Would it work?

What are the five types of states and individuals? What characterizes each? How does one transform into anothers?

Pay particular attention to the discussion of democracy. How well does out society and government fit this picture?

How does democracy turn into tyranny?

BOOK 9

How happy is the tyrant?

Why is the tyrant a slave?

BOOK 10

How does this discussion become a proof of the value of justice?

How does Socrates complete his argument about the profitability of justice? What are his criticisms of poetry?