Die Idee des Guten in Platons Politeia

This new interpretation of the central books of Plato's Republic differs from the consensus of 20th century interpreters mainly in three basic points. (1) It is shown that Aristotle's picture (in Metaph. A 6) of Plato's philosophy is not at variance with the text of the Republic, further (2) that Plato's aim with this dialogue was not that of leading the reader to the very limits of human philosophical know ledge, but rather to the limits of what might be accessible to the average recipient, as represented by Glaucon and Adeimantus, moreover (3) that Socrates' restrictive attitude corresponds exactly with the way philosophical instruction will have to be handled in a future ideal state.