More than a year ago i decided to start reading philosophy and bought a copy of Republic. Reading it gave me a perspective not just on philosophy but also on classical works. The much needed context from the note section, the works mentioned by Plato that are now lost to us, the difficulty and ambiguity of the translation, the Greek culture and history preceding Plato, the Socratic Question, the historiography of rediscovering the works of Plato and discerning them from the pseudo-platonica. There are many other subjects to mention and I've only explored the aforementioned at a surface level. Before Plato I also read the works of Homer then later Mythology by Edith Hamilton as well as The Presocratics to give me some prerequisite knowledge to understand the Greek culture at the time. After finishing Republic for the first time I took a break with philosophy until I could finish the last courses of my program and take my exam. Once finished I ritualistically sold my old math books and spent the money on The Complete Works of Plato. After university I got the idea that reading and analysing his works would be a good way to sharpen my writing skills, hence this blog. There is no universal consensus on the order of Plato's dialogues, chronological or pedagogical. So I've taken to different orders and read all (non-Pseduo-Platonic) works that can be put before Republic.

Now it is time to go return to where I started and reread Republic with my much greater knowledge of Plato and Ancient Greece together with my improved analytical ability. I am reading the Oxford edition and will be following the authors argumentative division of the dialogue instead of the traditional division based on scroll length limitations.