《理想國》是柏拉圖zui重要的代表作，不僅因為《理想國》內容全面、系統，更重要的是：這部著作zui能體現柏拉圖的創(chuàng)作意圖，使讀者能夠從柏拉圖的政治理想和當時希臘城邦的社會現實出發(fā)，理解柏拉圖哲學思想的真實依據、現實針對性的歷史意義。柏拉圖的《理想國》還向我們描繪出了一幅理想的烏托邦的畫面，柏拉圖認為，國家應當由哲學家來統治。柏拉圖的理想國中的公民劃分為衛(wèi)國者、士兵和普通人民三個階級。他的理想國要求每一個人在社會上都有其特殊功能，以滿足社會的整體需要。
古人有云：朝聞道，夕死可矣。人是社會動物，都有窺探社會組織架構、了解社會組織形態(tài)的好奇心和沖動。而現代社會更多脫胎于始于歐洲的資產階級革命，要想做這方面的探究，和偉人直接對話是一條捷徑。這就是這套原版的社科經典叢書的編輯初衷。不管你是學哲學的學生，還是從事社會科學研究的學者，不讀幾部經典原著，不在書架上擺上一套經典原著，應該是人生的一大憾事。
柏拉圖的《理想國》是世界范圍內的傳世經典名著。本杰明·喬伊特是19世紀不列顛zui偉大的教育家，以譯介柏拉圖作品而聞名于世。他翻譯的《理想國》是迄今全球zui好的英文文本。
《理想國（全英文原版）》：
I went down yesterday to the Piraeus with Glaucon the son of Ariston， that I might offer up my prayers to the goddess （Bendis， the Thracian Artemis.）； and also because I wanted to see in what manner they would celebrate the festival， which was a new thing. I was delighted with the procession of the inhabitants； but that of the Thracians was equally， if not more， beautiful. When we had finished our prayers and viewed the spectacle， we turned in the direction of the city； and at that instant Polemarchus the son of Cephalus chanced to catch sight of us from a distance as we were starting on our way home， and told his servant to run and bid us wait for him. The servant took hold of me by the cloak behind， and said： Polemarchus desires you to wait.
I turned round， and asked him where his master was. There he is， said the youth， coming after you， if you will only wait.
Certainly we will， said Glaucon； and in a few minutes Polemarchus appeared， and with him Adeimantus， Glaucon's brother， Niceratus the son of Nicias， and several others who had been at the procession.
Polemarchus said to me： I perceive， Socrates， that you and your companion are already on your way to the city.
You are not far wrong， I said.
But do you see， he rejoined， how many we are?
Of course.
And are you stronger than all these? For if not， you will have to remain where you are. May there not be the alternative， I said， that we may persuade you to let us go?
But can you persuade us， if we refuse to listen to you? He said.
Certainly not， replied Glaucon.
Then we are not going to listen； of that you may be assured.
Adeimantus added： Has no one told you of the torch-race on horseback in honour of the goddess which will take place in the evening?
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