Plato was an ancient Greek philosopher who is widely considered to be one of the most influential figures in Western philosophy. He is best known for his works The Republic and The Symposium, which are both considered to be foundational texts in the field of political philosophy. Plato's Republic is a dialogue between Socrates and several other characters, in which they discuss the nature of justice and the ideal state. In this work, Plato outlines his vision of an ideal society, which he calls a republic.