Plato and The Republic by Wan Li   132 x 210 cm Oil on Canvas, 2021

       柏拉图（前427年—前347年），古希腊著名哲学家、政治家和教育家。在中西文明两端的“轴心时代”，柏拉图与孟子都以对“善”的思考作为其哲学思想的核心。孟子主张“性善论”，认为善是“仁义内在”，用“反求诸己”的方式存养善性仁心，通过“仁义礼”来达到至善。柏拉图认为最高理念是“善”，认识真正的善即真理。在善的理念指引之下，公民具有认识世界的能力，从而为建立“正义城邦”奠定基础。柏拉图的《理想国》是对时政和社会问题以理论为核心将哲学理论和政治思想融为一体，论述了国家结构、政治体制、伦理道德、教育思想和社会文化等重要问题设想一个新型的理想国。

   Plato (427 BC - 347 BC) was a famous ancient Greek philosopher, statesman and educator. In the “Axial Age” in both Chinese and Western civilizations, Plato and Mencius both had the contemplation of the “goodness” at the heart of their philosophical thinking. Mencius believed in the innate goodness of human nature. He believed that goodness is “inherent in benevolence and righteousness” and that it is achieved through “benevolence, righteousness and propriety” by cultivating a good nature and a benevolent heart by “introspection”. Plato believed that the highest idea is “goodness”, and that to know the true “goodness” is to know the Truth. Guided by the idea of the goodness, citizens are empowered to understand the world, thus laying the foundations for the “just city-state”. Plato’s the Republic is a theoretical integration of philosophical theory and political thought on current political and social issues, addressing important issues such as the structure of the state, political institutions, ethics, educational thought and social culture to envision a new type of ideal state.

       画面展现了柏拉图在雅典西郊自建的Hekademos学园（柏拉图学园）中，手握着其代表作《理想国》展望思索的情景。学园绿茵环绕环境优美，从画面的希腊建筑向远望去可见远山巅的帕特农神庙，园中古老的希腊橄榄树，象征着和平与博爱。

   In the picture, Plato is holding in hand his masterpiece, The Republic, in the Hekademos (Plato’s Academy) established by himself in the western suburbs of Athens. The Academy is surrounded by greenery, with the Parthenon at the top of the hill visible from the Greek buildings and the ancient Greek olive tree in the garden, a symbol of peace and fraternity.

“文化互译，沟通世界”