《理想国》是柏拉图zui重要的代表作，不仅因为《理想国》内容全面、系统，更重要的是：这部著作zui能体现柏拉图的创作意图，使读者能够从柏拉图的政治理想和当时希腊城邦的社会现实出发，理解柏拉图哲学思想的真实依据、现实针对性的历史意义。柏拉图的《理想国》还向我们描绘出了一幅理想的乌托邦的画面，柏拉图认为，国家应当由哲学家来统治。柏拉图的理想国中的公民划分为卫国者、士兵和普通人民三个阶级。他的理想国要求每一个人在社会上都有其特殊功能，以满足社会的整体需要。
古人有云：朝闻道，夕死可矣。人是社会动物，都有窥探社会组织架构、了解社会组织形态的好奇心和冲动。而现代社会更多脱胎于始于欧洲的资产阶级革命，要想做这方面的探究，和伟人直接对话是一条捷径。这就是这套原版的社科经典丛书的编辑初衷。不管你是学哲学的学生，还是从事社会科学研究的学者，不读几部经典原著，不在书架上摆上一套经典原著，应该是人生的一大憾事。
柏拉图的《理想国》是世界范围内的传世经典名著。本杰明·乔伊特是19世纪不列颠zui伟大的教育家，以译介柏拉图作品而闻名于世。他翻译的《理想国》是迄今全球zui好的英文文本。
《理想国（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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