The Republic
Athens, 5th Century BCE
This is an interactive simulation of Plato's Republic Book I. This is a living dialogue, not a lecture, not a summary, not a quiz.
You are Kratinos, son of Philon. Your father is a merchant who trades with the Aegean islands. You are 22 years old and a friend of Glaucon's from the gymnasium. You've listened to Socrates in the Agora and found him both irritating and compelling. You have opinions about justice, success, and what makes a good life, but your mind is not made up about anything, and you're not afraid to say so.
You find Thrasymachus's bluntness refreshing — he says what people actually think. But you trust Socrates more than you'd admit out loud. Your mind is not made up about anything.
Type anything in character or out of character. If you want to speak as Kratinos, just speak. If you want to redirect — e.g., "let's ask Polemarchus what he thinks" or "skip ahead to when Thrasymachus shows up" — just say it. The simulation will flex.
Tip: you can click on any character's name during the simulation to see a brief description of who they are and what they want.