The War Lover: A Study of Plato's Republic
'The greatest contribution of this book lies in its vivid and engaging account of Plato's political psychology. Craig carefully traces the parallel between the just city and the soul of the just human being. He also shows, often quite brilliantly, how the dialogue's thematic account of human psychology and its dramatic presentation of Socrates' various interlocutors shed light on one another. In this way, Craig's interpretation does considerable justice to both the arguments an the drama of the Republic.'(Peter J. AhrensdorfAmerican Political Science Review)'Exciting, readable and thought provoking...This is an essential book for every serious student of Plato, for anyone teaching the Republic, and for every library.'(C.E. ButterworthChoice)'It is not easy to write a book on Plato's Republic that is both good and original. Over the centuries, the Republic has become one of the most commented upon of philosophic classics, and has attracted the interpretive efforts of some of the keenest philosophic minds. The book is of such scope and complexity that drawing together the threads of its widely branching arguments becomes a challenging task. The achievement in The War Lover is thus remarkable. In what is obviously the fruit of years of patient and careful study of Plato's dialogue, Leon Craig, a professor of political science at the University of Alberta, has produced one of the best book-length studies of the Republic, as well as one that sets forth a distinctive and controversial interpretation.'(Paul CantorBooks in Canada)