---
product_id: 50722012
title: "The Republic (Penguin Classics)"
price: "E£ 3035"
currency: EGP
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
url: https://www.desertcart.com.eg/products/50722012-the-republic-penguin-classics
store_origin: EG
region: Egypt
---

# Timeless wisdom across 2,500+ years Top 150 in Philosophy & History Classic philosophical masterpiece The Republic (Penguin Classics)

**Price:** E£ 3035
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 📖 Unlock the secrets of justice and power—because your bookshelf deserves a legend.

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** The Republic (Penguin Classics)
- **How much does it cost?** E£ 3035 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.com.eg](https://www.desertcart.com.eg/products/50722012-the-republic-penguin-classics)

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## Why This Product

- Free international shipping included
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## Key Features

- • **Cultivate Critical Thinking:** Challenge your worldview with the iconic Allegory of the Cave and profound ethical debates.
- • **Elevate Your Library Status:** Own a top-ranked classic that signals cultural sophistication and timeless curiosity.
- • **A Must-Have for Intellectuals:** Join thousands of readers who rated it 4.7 stars—perfect for personal growth and professional insight.
- • **Award-Winning Penguin Edition:** Experience expertly curated text and insightful notes that elevate your reading journey.
- • **Philosophy that Transcends Time:** Dive into Plato’s enduring exploration of justice and the ideal life, shaping millennia of thought.

## Overview

The Republic (Penguin Classics) is a definitive edition of Plato’s seminal work on justice, politics, and the ideal society. With over 2,500 years of influence, this edition features expert commentary and remains a cornerstone for anyone seeking to understand the foundations of Western philosophy. Highly rated and ranked among the top philosophy and history books, it’s essential for readers aiming to deepen their intellectual and ethical perspectives.

## Description

Buy The Republic (Penguin Classics) 3rd by Plato, Melissa Lane, H.D.P. Lee, Desmond Lee (ISBN: 9780140455113) from desertcart's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

Review: The Republic - The quest for living a just life - Well, what else can you say about The Republic? This book had a much bigger impact on me than I thought it would. I write my reviews as a general reader, not from an academic point of view, so if you are reading for personal reasons, then this review may help you. I think one of the mistakes you can make with The Republic is to think it is all about politics. It is far from that. It is as much concerned about the individual leading a happy and just life. It is obvious that there are many parallels drawn during the book on the state and the individual, but I think there is an even bigger allegory at play concerning the state as the individual, that perhaps Plato was using behind the whole framework. The politics is undeniable though. Plato himself was from an aristocratic Athenian background, and he writes at length (through Socrates) of the different types of societies in place, and why The Republic that he has created (in thought) is the best possible system that could exist. It is perhaps a cliché to say that it couldn’t work, but it really wouldn’t. The most frightening aspects of The Republic seem to have been a precursor to the totalitarian governments such as the Nazi regime, that would appear two and half thousand years later. It appears that the people cannot be trusted with their own thoughts, and their minds must be carefully crafted to avoid being educated with anything the rulers disagree with, particularly the dramatic Greek poets. In its most chilling passage, The Republic would “quietly and secretly dispose” of children conceived by ‘inferior guardians’. There are books written in defence of Plato regarding this aspect, some suggesting that he may not have meant to imply to kill infants but it is hard to agree with those thoughts when you read the following passage -“We shall first order them to make every effort to prevent any conception which takes place in these unions [close family members] from seeing the light at all, and if they fail to prevent its birth, to dispose of it as a creature that must not be reared”. I think that’s pretty clear. The notes of this Penguin Classics version state that there would be nothing very shocking to Greek sentiment regarding infanticide. It seems that the practice took place in Sparta and Athens, so perhaps one can read further into The Republic bearing this in mind, but it is still nothing short of shocking to read these passages, and again, it is another example of how the terrible aspects of this ideal state have been part of later tyrannical governments. Where the book redeems itself is how the individual can lead a just and happy life. I can’t even number the amount of passages I have underlined. There is some wonderful literature and poetry mixed in with the philosophy. The Simile of the Cave in Book VII is particularly brilliant. You will find it fascinating to read this section, as it metaphorically describes how the vast majority of people live their lives within a cave, thinking that their own shadows are reality, when in fact the true life has to be found outside the cave. Only those who can bear the adjustment of facing the bright light will make it out of the cave. As Plato would have it, they must return to the cave to teach people of the true life. The essence of The Republic is on leading a just life, and the discussion regarding the ideal state begins because Socrates is arguing why it pays better to live a just life. At first his opponents believe that it is the unjust who live the happier and better lives, and it takes Socrates the majority of the book to demonstrate why living a just life is better for the individual. Is it easy to read? There are indeed some difficult sections, and the similes are quite tricky to understand at first. In general though, I think if you stick at it and read plenty a day, the book will engross you, and by the end of it, you will definitely find the pay offs. The last section in particular, is one of my favourite passages, and even the final paragraph has magic within it. As with many of the classic books, it will require several readings to fully understand it, but even then I’m sure people will question if you really can achieve that. It is enlightening, uplifting, confusing and horrifying, but there is a reason it is regarded as one of the finest pieces of philosophy ever written. Students will read it if it is part of their course anyway, but for anyone else, let this historical masterpiece draw you in and give you some reasons to live a just and happy life.
Review: Great read - Great read.

## Features

- Penguin Classics
- It ensures you get the best usage for a longer period

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | 5,266 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 113 in Philosophy (Books) 509 in History (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 2,528 Reviews |

## Images

![The Republic (Penguin Classics) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91nYfNvYa7L.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Republic - The quest for living a just life
*by M***D on 27 August 2015*

Well, what else can you say about The Republic? This book had a much bigger impact on me than I thought it would. I write my reviews as a general reader, not from an academic point of view, so if you are reading for personal reasons, then this review may help you. I think one of the mistakes you can make with The Republic is to think it is all about politics. It is far from that. It is as much concerned about the individual leading a happy and just life. It is obvious that there are many parallels drawn during the book on the state and the individual, but I think there is an even bigger allegory at play concerning the state as the individual, that perhaps Plato was using behind the whole framework. The politics is undeniable though. Plato himself was from an aristocratic Athenian background, and he writes at length (through Socrates) of the different types of societies in place, and why The Republic that he has created (in thought) is the best possible system that could exist. It is perhaps a cliché to say that it couldn’t work, but it really wouldn’t. The most frightening aspects of The Republic seem to have been a precursor to the totalitarian governments such as the Nazi regime, that would appear two and half thousand years later. It appears that the people cannot be trusted with their own thoughts, and their minds must be carefully crafted to avoid being educated with anything the rulers disagree with, particularly the dramatic Greek poets. In its most chilling passage, The Republic would “quietly and secretly dispose” of children conceived by ‘inferior guardians’. There are books written in defence of Plato regarding this aspect, some suggesting that he may not have meant to imply to kill infants but it is hard to agree with those thoughts when you read the following passage -“We shall first order them to make every effort to prevent any conception which takes place in these unions [close family members] from seeing the light at all, and if they fail to prevent its birth, to dispose of it as a creature that must not be reared”. I think that’s pretty clear. The notes of this Penguin Classics version state that there would be nothing very shocking to Greek sentiment regarding infanticide. It seems that the practice took place in Sparta and Athens, so perhaps one can read further into The Republic bearing this in mind, but it is still nothing short of shocking to read these passages, and again, it is another example of how the terrible aspects of this ideal state have been part of later tyrannical governments. Where the book redeems itself is how the individual can lead a just and happy life. I can’t even number the amount of passages I have underlined. There is some wonderful literature and poetry mixed in with the philosophy. The Simile of the Cave in Book VII is particularly brilliant. You will find it fascinating to read this section, as it metaphorically describes how the vast majority of people live their lives within a cave, thinking that their own shadows are reality, when in fact the true life has to be found outside the cave. Only those who can bear the adjustment of facing the bright light will make it out of the cave. As Plato would have it, they must return to the cave to teach people of the true life. The essence of The Republic is on leading a just life, and the discussion regarding the ideal state begins because Socrates is arguing why it pays better to live a just life. At first his opponents believe that it is the unjust who live the happier and better lives, and it takes Socrates the majority of the book to demonstrate why living a just life is better for the individual. Is it easy to read? There are indeed some difficult sections, and the similes are quite tricky to understand at first. In general though, I think if you stick at it and read plenty a day, the book will engross you, and by the end of it, you will definitely find the pay offs. The last section in particular, is one of my favourite passages, and even the final paragraph has magic within it. As with many of the classic books, it will require several readings to fully understand it, but even then I’m sure people will question if you really can achieve that. It is enlightening, uplifting, confusing and horrifying, but there is a reason it is regarded as one of the finest pieces of philosophy ever written. Students will read it if it is part of their course anyway, but for anyone else, let this historical masterpiece draw you in and give you some reasons to live a just and happy life.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great read
*by S***N on 6 December 2025*

Great read.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I found it easier to read in chunks
*by C***S on 7 June 2025*

A classic read but don’t rush to finish it

## Frequently Bought Together

- Republic, The
- Meditations

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*Product available on Desertcart Egypt*
*Store origin: EG*
*Last updated: 2026-03-18*