It is not only a manifesto of the author's political thought, but also an outline of governance for politicians. Plato firmly believed that a philosopher could be a statesman and could indeed govern the world. The book deals with all aspects of justice, the state, property, philosophers, truth, understanding, and ideas, and has been recommended reading in Western intellectual circles for more than two thousand years. This book is a proof-texted edition, which strives to make it more accurate on the basis of Mr. Gu Shouguan's rigorous translation, and to provide a credible reference for the study of Plato in the Chinese-speaking world.