首页 >出版文学> THE REPUBLIC>第12章

第12章

  Herethen,Isaid,isanotherorderwhichwillhavetobeconveyedtoourguardians:Letourcitybeaccountedneitherlargenorsmall,butoneandself—sufficing。
  Andsurely,saidhe,thisisnotaverysevereorderwhichweimposeuponthem。
  Andtheother,saidI,ofwhichwewerespeakingbeforeislighterstill,—Imeanthedutyofdegradingtheoffspringoftheguardianswheninferior,andofelevatingintotherankofguardianstheoffspringofthelowerclasses,whennaturallysuperior。Theintentionwas,that,inthecaseofthecitizensgenerally,eachindividualshouldbeputtotheuseforwhichnaturewhichnatureintendedhim,onetoonework,andtheneverymanwoulddohisownbusiness,andbeoneandnotmany;andsothewholecitywouldbeoneandnotmany。
  Yes,hesaid;thatisnotsodifficult。
  Theregulationswhichweareprescribing,mygoodAdeimantus,arenot,asmightbesupposed,anumberofgreatprinciples,buttriflesall,ifcarebetaken,asthesayingis,oftheonegreatthing,——athing,however,whichIwouldrathercall,notgreat,butsufficientforourpurpose。
  Whatmaythatbe?heasked。
  Education,Isaid,andnurture:Ifourcitizensarewelleducated,andgrowintosensiblemen,theywilleasilyseetheirwaythroughallthese,aswellasothermatterswhichIomit;such,forexample,asmarriage,thepossessionofwomenandtheprocreationofchildren,whichwillallfollowthegeneralprinciplethatfriendshaveallthingsincommon,astheproverbsays。
  Thatwillbethebestwayofsettlingthem。
  Also,Isaid,theState,ifoncestartedwell,moveswithaccumulatingforcelikeawheel。Forgoodnurtureandeducationimplantgoodconstitutions,andthesegoodconstitutionstakingrootinagoodeducationimprovemoreandmore,andthisimprovementaffectsthebreedinmanasinotheranimals。
  Verypossibly,hesaid。
  Thentosumup:Thisisthepointtowhich,aboveall,theattentionofourrulersshouldbedirected,——thatmusicandgymnasticbepreservedintheiroriginalform,andnoinnovationmade。Theymustdotheirutmosttomaintainthemintact。AndwhenanyonesaysthatmankindmostregardThenewestsongwhichthesingershave,theywillbeafraidthathemaybepraising,notnewsongs,butanewkindofsong;andthisoughtnottobepraised,orconceivedtobethemeaningofthepoet;foranymusicalinnovationisfullofdangertothewholeState,andoughttobeprohibited。SoDamontellsme,andIcanquitebelievehim;—hesaysthatwhenmodesofmusicchange,oftheStatealwayschangewiththem。
  Yes,saidAdeimantus;andyoumayaddmysuffragetoDamon’sandyourown。
  Then,Isaid,ourguardiansmustlaythefoundationsoftheirfortressinmusic?
  Yes,hesaid;thelawlessnessofwhichyouspeaktooeasilystealsin。
  Yes,Ireplied,intheformofamusement;andatfirstsightitappearsharmless。
  Why,yes,hesaid,andthereisnoharm;wereitnotthatlittlebylittlethisspiritoflicence,findingahome,imperceptiblypenetratesintomannersandcustoms;whence,issuingwithgreaterforce,itinvadescontractsbetweenmanandman,andfromcontractsgoesontolawsandconstitutions,inutterrecklessness,endingatlast,Socrates,byanoverthrowofallrights,privateaswellaspublic。
  Isthattrue?Isaid。
  Thatismybelief,hereplied。
  Then,asIwassaying,ouryouthshouldbetrainedfromthefirstinastrictersystem,forifamusementsbecomelawless,andtheyouthsthemselvesbecomelawless,theycannevergrowupintowell—conductedandvirtuouscitizens。
  Verytrue,hesaid。
  Andwhentheyhavemadeagoodbeginninginplay,andbythehelpofmusichavegainedthehabitofgoodorder,thenthishabitoforder,inamannerhowunlikethelawlessplayoftheothers!willaccompanytheminalltheiractionsandbeaprincipleofgrowthtothem,andiftherebeanyfallenplacesaprincipleintheStatewillraisethemupagain。
  Verytrue,hesaid。
  Thuseducated,theywillinventforthemselvesanylesserruleswhichtheirpredecessorshavealtogetherneglected。
  Whatdoyoumean?
  Imeansuchthingsasthese:——whentheyoungaretobesilentbeforetheirelders;howtheyaretoshowrespecttothembystandingandmakingthemsit;whathonourisduetoparents;whatgarmentsorshoesaretobeworn;themodeofdressingthehair;
  deportmentandmannersingeneral。Youwouldagreewithme?
  Yes。
  Butthereis,Ithink,smallwisdominlegislatingaboutsuchmatters,——Idoubtifitiseverdone;norareanyprecisewrittenenactmentsaboutthemlikelytobelasting。
  Impossible。
  Itwouldseem,Adeimantus,thatthedirectioninwhicheducationstartsaman,willdeterminehisfuturelife。Doesnotlikealwaysattractlike?
  Tobesure。
  Untilsomeonerareandgrandresultisreachedwhichmaybegood,andmaybethereverseofgood?
  Thatisnottobedenied。
  Andforthisreason,Isaid,Ishallnotattempttolegislatefurtheraboutthem。
  Naturallyenough,hereplied。
  Well,andaboutthebusinessoftheagora,dealingsandtheordinarydealingsbetweenmanandman,oragainaboutagreementswiththecommencementwithartisans;aboutinsultandinjury,ofthecommencementofactions,andtheappointmentofjuries,whatwouldyousay?theremayalsoarisequestionsaboutanyimpositionsandextractionsofmarketandharbourdueswhichmayberequired,andingeneralabouttheregulationsofmarkets,police,harbours,andthelike。But,ohheavens!shallwecondescendtolegislateonanyoftheseparticulars?
  Ithink,hesaid,thatthereisnoneedtoimposelawsaboutthemongoodmen;whatregulationsarenecessarytheywillfindoutsoonenoughforthemselves。
  Yes,Isaid,myfriend,ifGodwillonlypreservetothemthelawswhichwehavegiventhem。
  Andwithoutdivinehelp,saidAdeimantus,theywillgoonforevermakingandmendingtheirlawsandtheirlivesinthehopeofattainingperfection。
  Youwouldcomparethem,Isaid,tothoseinvalidswho,havingnoself—restraint,willnotleaveofftheirhabitsofintemperance?
  Exactly。
  Yes,Isaid;andwhatadelightfullifetheylead!theyarealwaysdoctoringandincreasingandcomplicatingtheirdisorders,andalwaysfancyingthattheywillbecuredbyanynostrumwhichanybodyadvisesthemtotry。
  Suchcasesareverycommon,hesaid,withinvalidsofthissort。
  Yes,Ireplied;andthecharmingthingisthattheydeemhimtheirworstenemywhotellsthemthetruth,whichissimplythat,unlesstheygiveupeatinganddrinkingandwenchingandidling,neitherdrugnorcauterynorspellnoramuletnoranyotherremedywillavail。
  Charming!hereplied。Iseenothingcharmingingoingintoapassionwithamanwhotellsyouwhatisright。
  Thesegentlemen,Isaid,donotseemtobeinyourgoodgraces。
  Assuredlynot。
  NorwouldyoupraisethebehaviourofStateswhichactlikethemenwhomIwasjustnowdescribing。Foraretherenotill—orderedStatesinwhichthecitizensareforbiddenunderpainofdeathtoaltertheconstitution;andyethewhomostsweetlycourtsthosewholiveunderthisregimeandindulgesthemandfawnsuponthemandisskilfulinanticipatingandgratifyingtheirhumoursisheldtobeagreatandgoodstatesman——donottheseStatesresemblethepersonswhomIwasdescribing?
  Yes,hesaid;theStatesareasbadasthemen;andIamveryfarfrompraisingthem。
  Butdoyounotadmire,Isaid,thecoolnessanddexterityofthesereadyministersofpoliticalcorruption?
  Yes,hesaid,Ido;butnotofallofthem,fortherearesomewhomtheapplauseofthemultitudehasdeludedintothebeliefthattheyarereallystatesmen,andthesearenotmuchtobeadmired。
  Whatdoyoumean?Isaid;youshouldhavemorefeelingforthem。
  Whenamancannotmeasure,andagreatmanyotherswhocannotmeasuredeclarethatheisfourcubitshigh,canhehelpbelievingwhattheysay?
  Nay,hesaid,certainlynotinthatcase。
  Well,then,donotbeangrywiththem;foraretheynotasgoodasaplay,tryingtheirhandatpaltryreformssuchasIwasdescribing;
  theyarealwaysfancyingthatbylegislationtheywillmakeanendoffraudsincontracts,andtheotherrascalitieswhichIwasmentioning,notknowingthattheyareinrealitycuttingofftheheadsofahydra?
  Yes,hesaid;thatisjustwhattheyaredoing。
  Iconceive,Isaid,thatthetruelegislatorwillnottroublehimselfwiththisclassofenactmentswhetherconcerninglawsortheconstitutioneitherinanill—orderedorinawell—orderedState;
  forintheformertheyarequiteuseless,andinthelattertherewillbenodifficultyindevisingthem;andmanyofthemwillnaturallyflowoutofourpreviousregulations。
  What,then,hesaid,isstillremainingtousoftheworkoflegislation?
  Nothingtous,Ireplied;buttoApollo,theGodofDelphi,thereremainstheorderingofthegreatestandnoblestandchiefestthingsofall。
  Whicharethey?hesaid。
  Theinstitutionoftemplesandsacrifices,andtheentireserviceofgods,demigods,andheroes;alsotheorderingoftherepositoriesofthedead,andtheriteswhichhavetobeobservedbyhimwhowouldpropitiatetheinhabitantsoftheworldbelow。Thesearemattersofwhichweareignorantourselves,andasfoundersofacityweshouldbeunwiseintrustingthemtoanyinterpreterbutourancestraldeity。
  Heisthegodwhositsinthecenter,onthenaveloftheearth,andheistheinterpreterofreligiontoallmankind。
  Youareright,andwewilldoasyoupropose。
  Butwhere,amidallthis,isjustice?sonofAriston,tellmewhere。
  Nowthatourcityhasbeenmadehabitable,lightacandleandsearch,andgetyourbrotherandPolemarchusandtherestofourfriendstohelp,andletusseewhereinitwecandiscoverjusticeandwhereinjustice,andinwhattheydifferfromoneanother,andwhichofthemthemanwhowouldbehappyshouldhaveforhisportion,whetherseenorunseenbygodsandmen。
  SOCRATES—GLAUCON
  Nonsense,saidGlaucon:didyounotpromisetosearchyourself,sayingthatforyounottohelpjusticeinherneedwouldbeanimpiety?
  IdonotdenythatIsaidso,andasyouremindme,Iwillbeasgoodasmyword;butyoumustjoin。
  Wewill,hereplied。
  Well,then,Ihopetomakethediscoveryinthisway:ImeantobeginwiththeassumptionthatourState,ifrightlyordered,isperfect。
  Thatismostcertain。
  Andbeingperfect,isthereforewiseandvaliantandtemperateandjust。
  Thatislikewiseclear。
  AndwhicheverofthesequalitieswefindintheState,theonewhichisnotfoundwillbetheresidue?
  Verygood。
  Iftherewerefourthings,andweweresearchingforoneofthem,whereveritmightbe,theonesoughtformightbeknowntousfromthefirst,andtherewouldbenofurthertrouble;orwemightknowtheotherthreefirst,andthenthefourthwouldclearlybetheoneleft。
  Verytrue,hesaid。
  Andisnotasimilarmethodtobepursuedaboutthevirtues,whicharealsofourinnumber?
  Clearly。
  FirstamongthevirtuesfoundintheState,wisdomcomesintoview,andinthisIdetectacertainpeculiarity。
  Whatisthat?
  TheStatewhichwehavebeendescribingissaidtobewiseasbeinggoodincounsel?
  Verytrue。
  Andgoodcounselisclearlyakindofknowledge,fornotbyignorance,butbyknowledge,domencounselwell?
  Clearly。
  AndthekindsofknowledgeinaStatearemanyanddiverse?
  Ofcourse。
  Thereistheknowledgeofthecarpenter;butisthatthesortofknowledgewhichgivesacitythetitleofwiseandgoodincounsel?
  Certainlynot;thatwouldonlygiveacitythereputationofskillincarpentering。
  Thenacityisnottobecalledwisebecausepossessingaknowledgewhichcounselsforthebestaboutwoodenimplements?
  Certainlynot。
  Norbyreasonofaknowledgewhichadvisesaboutbrazenpots,I
  said,noraspossessinganyothersimilarknowledge?
  Notbyreasonofanyofthem,hesaid。
  Noryetbyreasonofaknowledgewhichcultivatestheearth;thatwouldgivethecitythenameofagricultural?
  Yes。
  Well,Isaid,andisthereanyknowledgeinourrecentlyfoundedStateamonganyofthecitizenswhichadvises,notaboutanyparticularthingintheState,butaboutthewhole,andconsidershowaStatecanbestdealwithitselfandwithotherStates?
  Therecertainlyis。
  Andwhatisknowledge,andamongwhomisitfound?Iasked。
  Itistheknowledgeoftheguardians,hereplied,andfoundamongthosewhomwewerejustnowdescribingasperfectguardians。
  Andwhatisthenamewhichthecityderivesfromthepossessionofthissortofknowledge?
  Thenameofgoodincounselandtrulywise。
  Andwilltherebeinourcitymoreofthesetrueguardiansormoresmiths?
  Thesmiths,hereplied,willbefarmorenumerous。
  Willnottheguardiansbethesmallestofalltheclasseswhoreceiveanamefromtheprofessionofsomekindofknowledge?
  Muchthesmallest。
  Andsobyreasonofthesmallestpartorclass,andoftheknowledgewhichresidesinthispresidingandrulingpartofitself,thewholeState,beingthusconstitutedaccordingtonature,willbewise;andthis,whichhastheonlyknowledgeworthytobecalledwisdom,hasbeenordainedbynaturetobeofallclassestheleast。
  Mosttrue。
  Thus,then,Isaid,thenatureandplaceintheStateofoneofthefourvirtueshassomehoworotherbeendiscovered。
  And,inmyhumbleopinion,verysatisfactorilydiscovered,hereplied。
  Again,Isaid,thereisnodifficultyinseeingthenatureofcourage;andinwhatpartthatqualityresideswhichgivesthenameofcourageoustotheState。
  Howdoyoumean?
  Why,Isaid,everyonewhocallsanyStatecourageousorcowardly,willbethinkingofthepartwhichfightsandgoesouttowarontheState’sbehalf。
  Noone,hereplied,wouldeverthinkofanyother。
  Certainlynot。
  Therestofthecitizensmaybecourageousormaybecowardlybuttheircourageorcowardicewillnot,asIconceive,havetheeffectofmakingthecityeithertheoneortheother。
  Thecitywillbecourageousinvirtueofaportionofherselfwhichpreservesunderallcircumstancesthatopinionaboutthenatureofthingstobefearedandnottobefearedinwhichourlegislatoreducatedthem;andthisiswhatyoutermcourage。
  Ishouldliketohearwhatyouaresayingoncemore,forIdonotthinkthatIperfectlyunderstandyou。
  Imeanthatcourageisakindofsalvation。
  Salvationofwhat?
  Oftheopinionrespectingthingstobefeared,whattheyareandofwhatnature,whichthelawimplantsthrougheducation;andImeanbythewords’underallcircumstances’tointimatethatinpleasureorinpain,orundertheinfluenceofdesireorfear,amanpreserves,anddoesnotlosethisopinion。ShallIgiveyouanillustration?
  Ifyouplease。
  Youknow,Isaid,thatdyers,whentheywanttodyewoolformakingthetruesea—purple,beginbyselectingtheirwhitecolourfirst;thistheyprepareanddresswithmuchcareandpains,inorderthatthewhitegroundmaytakethepurplehueinfullperfection。Thedyeingthenproceeds;andwhateverisdyedinthismannerbecomesafastcolour,andnowashingeitherwithlyesorwithoutthemcantakeawaythebloom。But,whenthegroundhasnotbeendulyprepared,youwillhavenoticedhowpooristhelookeitherofpurpleorofanyothercolour。
  Yes,hesaid;Iknowthattheyhaveawashed—outandridiculousappearance。
  Thennow,Isaid,youwillunderstandwhatourobjectwasinselectingoursoldiers,andeducatingtheminmusicandgymnastic;
  wewerecontrivinginfluenceswhichwouldpreparethemtotakethedyeofthelawsinperfection,andthecolouroftheiropinionaboutdangersandofeveryotheropinionwastobeindeliblyfixedbytheirnurtureandtraining,nottobewashedawaybysuchpotentlyesaspleasure——mightieragentfarinwashingthesoulthananysodaorlye;orbysorrow,fear,anddesire,themightiestofallothersolvents。AndthissortofuniversalsavingpoweroftrueopinioninconformitywithlawaboutrealandfalsedangersIcallandmaintaintobecourage,unlessyoudisagree。
  ButIagree,hereplied;forIsupposethatyoumeantoexcludemereuninstructedcourage,suchasthatofawildbeastorofaslave——this,inyouropinion,isnotthecouragewhichthelawordains,andoughttohaveanothername。
  Mostcertainly。
  ThenImayinfercouragetobesuchasyoudescribe?
  Why,yes,saidI,youmay,andifyouaddthewords’ofacitizen,’youwillnotbefarwrong;——hereafter,ifyoulike,wewillcarrytheexaminationfurther,butatpresentwearewewseekingnotforcouragebutjustice;andforthepurposeofourenquirywehavesaidenough。
  Youareright,hereplied。
  TwovirtuesremaintobediscoveredintheState—firsttemperance,andthenjusticewhichistheendofoursearch。
  Verytrue。
  Now,canwefindjusticewithouttroublingourselvesabouttemperance?
  Idonotknowhowthatcanbeaccomplished,hesaid,nordoIdesirethatjusticeshouldbebroughttolightandtemperancelostsightof;andthereforeIwishthatyouwoulddomethefavourofconsideringtemperancefirst。
  Certainly,Ireplied,Ishouldnotbejustifiedinrefusingyourrequest。
  Thenconsider,hesaid。
  Yes,Ireplied;Iwill;andasfarasIcanatpresentsee,thevirtueoftemperancehasmoreofthenatureofharmonyandsymphonythanthepreceding。
  Howso?heasked。
  Temperance,Ireplied,istheorderingorcontrollingofcertainpleasuresanddesires;thisiscuriouslyenoughimpliedinthesayingof’amanbeinghisownmaster’andothertracesofthesamenotionmaybefoundinlanguage。
  Nodoubt,hesaid。
  Thereissomethingridiculousintheexpression’masterofhimself’;
  forthemasterisalsotheservantandtheservantthemaster;andinallthesemodesofspeakingthesamepersonisdenoted。
  Certainly。
  Themeaningis,Ibelieve,thatinthehumansoulthereisabetterandalsoaworseprinciple;andwhenthebetterhastheworseundercontrol,thenamanissaidtobemasterofhimself;andthisisatermofpraise:butwhen,owingtoevileducationorassociation,thebetterprinciple,whichisalsothesmaller,isoverwhelmedbythegreatermassoftheworse——inthiscaseheisblamedandiscalledtheslaveofselfandunprincipled。
  Yes,thereisreasoninthat。
  Andnow,Isaid,lookatournewlycreatedState,andthereyouwillfindoneofthesetwoconditionsrealised;fortheState,asyouwillacknowledge,maybejustlycalledmasterofitself,ifthewords’temperance’and’self—mastery’trulyexpresstheruleofthebetterpartovertheworse。
  Yes,hesaid,Iseethatwhatyousayistrue。
  Letmefurthernotethatthemanifoldandcomplexpleasuresanddesiresandpainsaregenerallyfoundinchildrenandwomenandservants,andinthefreemensocalledwhoareofthelowestandmorenumerousclass。
  Certainly,hesaid。
  Whereasthesimpleandmoderatedesireswhichfollowreason,andareundertheguidanceofmindandtrueopinion,aretobefoundonlyinafew,andthosethebestbornandbesteducated。
  Verytrue。Thesetwo,asyoumayperceive,haveaplaceinourState;andthemeanerdesiresofthearehelddownbythevirtuousdesiresandwisdomofthefew。
  ThatIperceive,hesaid。
  Theniftherebeanycitywhichmaybedescribedasmasterofitsownpleasuresanddesires,andmasterofitself,oursmayclaimsuchadesignation?
  Certainly,hereplied。
  Itmayalsobecalledtemperate,andforthesamereasons?
  Yes。
  AndiftherebeanyStateinwhichrulersandsubjectswillbeagreedastothequestionwhoaretorule,thatagainwillbeourState?
  Undoubtedly。
  Andthecitizensbeingthusagreedamongthemselves,inwhichclasswilltemperancebefound——intherulersorinthesubjects?
  Inboth,asIshouldimagine,hereplied。
  Doyouobservethatwewerenotfarwronginourguessthattemperancewasasortofharmony?
  Whyso?
  Why,becausetemperanceisunlikecourageandwisdom,eachofwhichresidesinapartonly,theonemakingtheStatewiseandtheothervaliant;notsotemperance,whichextendstothewhole,andrunsthroughallthenotesofthescale,andproducesaharmonyoftheweakerandthestrongerandthemiddleclass,whetheryousupposethemtobestrongerorweakerinwisdomorpowerornumbersorwealth,oranythingelse。Mosttrulythenmaywedeemtemperancetobetheagreementofthenaturallysuperiorandinferior,astotherighttoruleofeither,bothinstatesandindividuals。
  Ientirelyagreewithyou。
  Andso,Isaid,wemayconsiderthreeoutofthefourvirtuestohavebeendiscoveredinourState。Thelastofthosequalitieswhichmakeastatevirtuousmustbejustice,ifweonlyknewwhatthatwas。
  Theinferenceisobvious。
  Thetimethenhasarrived,Glaucon,when,likehuntsmen,weshouldsurroundthecover,andlooksharpthatjusticedoesnotstealaway,andpassoutofsightandescapeus;forbeyondadoubtsheissomewhereinthiscountry:watchthereforeandstrivetocatchasightofher,andifyouseeherfirst,letmeknow。