Overview
1- Why does Socrates believe that the best political community should be neither wealthy nor poor? How might Machiavelli respond?
2- Why does Socrates believe it is important that the best political community be moderate in size? How might Machiavelli respond?
3- Why does Socrates place so much importance in the best political community on the education of the young? How does this emphasis on education differ from Machiavelli's account of politics in the Prince?
4- As it is described near the beginning of Book IV of the Republic, how will the best political community conduct itself in war? How might this be described as "Machiavellian"?
5- How do Machiavelli and Plato differ in what they see as the proper aim or purpose of the political community?