Republic: Book IV Summary

Adeimantus asks Socrates why the city's soldiers, who are responsible for so much, should be deprived of material happiness. Socrates replies that the goal in constructing this imagined republic is not to make one particular class of people happy, but to make a well-organized and perfect society and, therefore, it may require that one class not be as happy as the others. It is necessary that the soldiers not have material possessions of their own, because wealth interferes with one's art, and it would, therefore make them poor soldiers. As such, compared with the "rich" soldiers of other cities, by virtue of their bare lifestyles, they should be able to easily handle two or three times their number.

It is decided that other laws affecting the flow of everyday life can be decided upon by the people themselves and...