Plato's Republic is one of the best known and most widely discussed texts in the history of philosophy; but how might we get to the heart of this work today, 2,500 years after it was originally composed? Alain Badiou invents a new genre in order to breathe fresh life into Plato's text and restore its universality. Rather than producing yet another critical commentary, he has worked closely on the original Greek and, by making spectacular changes, adapted it to our times.

In this innovative reimagining of a classic text, Badiou has removed all references specific to ancient Greek society - from lengthy exchanges about moral courage in archaic poetry to political considerations that were mainly of interest to the aristocratic elite. On the other hand, Badiou has expanded the range of cultural references: here philosophy is firing on all cylinders; Socrates and his companions are joined by Beckett, Pessoa, Freud, Hegel, and many others. They demonstrate together the enduring nature of true philosophy, always ready to absorb new horizons without changing its essence.

Moreover, Badiou the dramatist has made the Socratic dialogue a true oratorical contest: in his version of the Republic, the interlocutors have more in mind than merely agreeing with Socrates. They stand up to him, put him on the spot, and thereby show thought in motion. Through this work of writing, scholarship, and philosophy we are able for the first time to read a modern version of Plato's text that is alive, stimulating, and directly relevant to our own world.

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