This is the first of a series on Plato's Republic.  I will devote a few episodes to each book of Plato's Republic. 

In the first episode of this series, I talk about the centrality of the part/whole relation in Plato's thought (especially the Republic) and argue that it is central to an understanding what makes human's happy; since it leads to an understanding of what we are and hence to an understanding of the meaning of our lives.  Happiness is not individualistic, but communal.  I also talk about what is required of a reader if he is to read Plato's dialogues philosophically.  I end by saying a bit about the life of Socrates, Plato, and the philosophic and poetic nature of the Republic.