The Republic was written by Plato (born 428/27 BC or 434/23 BC, died 348/347 BC) around 380 BC. It is a Socratic dialogue that may have taken place during the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC). This book is considered, for good or for bad, one of the most influential works in political philosophy in Western Civilization and Plato's best-known text. Plato discusses philosophy and philosophers, justice, the nature of different forms of existing governments, and proposes the government of the philosopher-king, an enlightened figure who has the ability to guide society.