what does Plato, what are his views on modern America.

柏拉图对于现代美国的观点是什么
What does Plato say to us today?

柏拉图会对今日的我们说些什么
But I want to start with what is one of the grand themes of the Republic,

但我仍想从《理想国》一个重要主题开始

it is indicated in Book II by Adeimantus' speech about self-control.

在第二卷阿迪曼图关于自控的演讲中
It is introduced further by the claims of Socrates

苏格拉底对此有进一步深化
to control, to censor, to control the poetry and the arts of the city.

要控制检查控制诗和城邦的艺术
And this is the big theme of what one might call

这个重大主题就是关于人们所谓的
"the control of the passions."

"激情控制"
This is the theme of every great moralist

每位伟大的道德学家都关注这个问题
from Spinoza to Kant to Freud.

从斯宾诺莎到康德到佛洛伊德
How do we control the passions?

我们怎样控制激情呢
And it is certainly a large theme of Plato's theory of justice

这当然是柏拉图正义理论的重大主题之一