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。
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