SHOWS

A Line, a Cave, and a Beautiful City in Plato’s Republic

Presented by The University of Chicago’s Works of the Mind lecture series

Sunday, March 14
1:00 PM — 2:30 PM
Claudia Cassidy Theater
FREE

Lecture by Herman Sinaiko, Professor, Humanities, the College, the University of Chicago

Socrates’ “beautiful city,” the political pattern of justice, gradually emerges from the discussion in the first seven books of the Republic. The last, but most significant, feature of the just city to come to light is the figure of the philosopher-king. The nature and goal of philosophy itself is finally treated by Socrates in the Simile of Light in books vi and vii. But are philosophy and politics compatible? Is the just city a realizable goal or is it an unrealizable image, a utopian dream?

This event is presented in conjunction with Theatre Mir’s Beautiful City playing March 4 - April 3 at the Storefront Theater.