Plato's Republic is one of the best-known and most widely-discussed
texts in the history of philosophy. But how might we get to the heart of
this work today, 2,500 years after its original composition? Alain
Badiou breathes life into Plato's landmark text and revives its
universality. Rather than producing yet another critical commentary, he
has instead worked closely on the original Greek and, through
spectacular changes, adapted it to our times. In this innovative
reimagining of Plato's work, Badiou has removed all references specific
to ancient Greek society--from lengthy exchanges about moral courage in
archaic poetry to political considerations mainly of interest to the
aristocratic elite--and has expanded the range of cultural references.
Here, philosophy is firing on all cylinders: Socrates and his companions
are joined by Beckett, Pessoa, Freud, and Hegel, among others. Together
these thinkers demonstrate that true philosophy endures, ready to absorb
new horizons without changing its essence.
Moreover, Badiou--who is also a dramatist--has transformed the Socratic
dialogue into a genuine oratorial contest. In his version of the
Republic, the interlocutors do much more than simply agree with
Socrates. They argue, stand up to him, put him on the spot, and show
thought in motion. In this work of dramatic scholarship and philosophy,
we encounter a modern version of Plato's text that is alive,
stimulating, and directly relevant to our own world.
