Athens, 5th Century BCE: Plato's Republic
Athens, 5th Century BCE
This is an interactive simulation of Plato's Republic Book I. This is a living dialogue, not a summary. Type anything in character or out of character. If you want to speak in character, just type. If you want to redirect — e.g., “quote some relevant passage from Homer" or "skip ahead to when Thrasymachus erupts” — just say it. The simulation will flex.
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 compelling and irritating. 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.