An unconscious irony in Plato's Republic.

This study of some psychological themes in a classical philosophical work, Plato's Republic, is an exercise in applied psychoanalysis that attempts to formulate an integrated psychoanalytic and philosophical understanding of certain ideas to be found in that work. It contains an interpretative study of a legend introduced by Plato at a crucial point in the development of the philosophical argument of the Republic. It is hypothesized that his use of this legend can be traced to an unconscious conflict in Plato, which when identified and interpreted can broaden our understanding and appreciation of the humanity of this work.