首页 >出版文学> THE REPUBLIC>第14章

第14章

  Andso,aftermuchtossing,wehavereachedland,andarefairlyagreedthatthesameprincipleswhichexistintheStateexistalsointheindividual,andthattheyarethreeinnumber。
  Exactly。
  Mustwenottheninferthattheindividualiswiseinthesameway,andinvirtueofthesamequalitywhichmakestheStatewise?
  Certainly。
  AlsothatthesamequalitywhichconstitutescourageintheStateconstitutescourageintheindividual,andthatboththeStateandtheindividualbearthesamerelationtoalltheothervirtues?
  Assuredly。
  AndtheindividualwillbeacknowledgedbyustobejustinthesamewayinwhichtheStateisjust?
  Thatfollows,ofcourse。
  WecannotbutrememberthatthejusticeoftheStateconsistedineachofthethreeclassesdoingtheworkofitsownclass?
  Wearenotverylikelytohaveforgotten,hesaid。
  Wemustrecollectthattheindividualinwhomtheseveralqualitiesofhisnaturedotheirownworkwillbejust,andwilldohisownwork?
  Yes,hesaid,wemustrememberthattoo。
  Andoughtnottherationalprinciple,whichiswise,andhasthecareofthewholesoul,torule,andthepassionateorspiritedprincipletobethesubjectandally?
  Certainly。
  And,asweweresaying,theunitedinfluenceofmusicandgymnasticwillbringthemintoaccord,nervingandsustainingthereasonwithnoblewordsandlessons,andmoderatingandsoothingandcivilizingthewildnessofpassionbyharmonyandrhythm?
  Quitetrue,hesaid。
  Andthesetwo,thusnurturedandeducated,andhavinglearnedtrulytoknowtheirownfunctions,willruleovertheconcupiscent,whichineachofusisthelargestpartofthesoulandbynaturemostinsatiableofgain;overthistheywillkeepguard,lest,waxinggreatandstrongwiththefulnessofbodilypleasures,astheyaretermed,theconcupiscentsoul,nolongerconfinedtoherownsphere,shouldattempttoenslaveandrulethosewhoarenothernatural—bornsubjects,andoverturnthewholelifeofman?
  Verytrue,hesaid。
  Bothtogetherwilltheynotbethebestdefendersofthewholesoulandthewholebodyagainstattacksfromwithout;theonecounselling,andtheotherfightingunderhisleader,andcourageouslyexecutinghiscommandsandcounsels?
  True。
  Andheistobedeemedcourageouswhosespiritretainsinpleasureandinpainthecommandsofreasonaboutwhatheoughtoroughtnottofear?
  Right,hereplied。
  Andhimwecallwisewhohasinhimthatlittlepartwhichrules,andwhichproclaimsthesecommands;thatparttoobeingsupposedtohaveaknowledgeofwhatisfortheinterestofeachofthethreepartsandofthewhole?
  Assuredly。
  Andwouldyounotsaythatheistemperatewhohasthesesameelementsinfriendlyharmony,inwhomtheonerulingprincipleofreason,andthetwosubjectonesofspiritanddesireareequallyagreedthatreasonoughttorule,anddonotrebel?
  Certainly,hesaid,thatisthetrueaccountoftemperancewhetherintheStateorindividual。
  Andsurely,Isaid,wehaveexplainedagainandagainhowandbyvirtueofwhatqualityamanwillbejust。
  Thatisverycertain。
  Andisjusticedimmerintheindividual,andisherformdifferent,orisshethesamewhichwefoundhertobeintheState?
  Thereisnodifferenceinmyopinion,hesaid。
  Because,ifanydoubtisstilllingeringinourminds,afewcommonplaceinstanceswillsatisfyusofthetruthofwhatIamsaying。
  Whatsortofinstancesdoyoumean?
  Ifthecaseisputtous,mustwenotadmitthatthejustState,orthemanwhoistrainedintheprinciplesofsuchaState,willbelesslikelythantheunjusttomakeawaywithadepositofgoldorsilver?Wouldanyonedenythis?
  Noone,hereplied。
  Willthejustmanorcitizeneverbeguiltyofsacrilegeortheft,ortreacheryeithertohisfriendsortohiscountry?
  Never。
  Neitherwillheeverbreakfaithwheretherehavebeenoathsoragreements?
  Impossible。
  Noonewillbelesslikelytocommitadultery,ortodishonourhisfatherandmother,ortofallinhisreligiousduties?
  Noone。
  Andthereasonisthateachpartofhimisdoingitsownbusiness,whetherinrulingorbeingruled?
  Exactlyso。
  Areyousatisfiedthenthatthequalitywhichmakessuchmenandsuchstatesisjustice,ordoyouhopetodiscoversomeother?
  NotI,indeed。
  Thenourdreamhasbeenrealised;andthesuspicionwhichweentertainedatthebeginningofourworkofconstruction,thatsomedivinepowermusthaveconductedustoaprimaryformofjustice,hasnowbeenverified?
  Yes,certainly。
  Andthedivisionoflabourwhichrequiredthecarpenterandtheshoemakerandtherestofthecitizenstobedoingeachhisownbusiness,andnotanother’s,wasashadowofjustice,andforthatreasonitwasofuse?
  Clearly。
  Butinrealityjusticewassuchasweweredescribing,beingconcernedhowever,notwiththeoutwardman,butwiththeinward,whichisthetrueselfandconcernmentofman:forthejustmandoesnotpermittheseveralelementswithinhimtointerferewithoneanother,oranyofthemtodotheworkofothers,——hesetsinorderhisowninnerlife,andishisownmasterandhisownlaw,andatpeacewithhimself;andwhenhehasboundtogetherthethreeprincipleswithinhim,whichmaybecomparedtothehigher,lower,andmiddlenotesofthescale,andtheintermediateintervals——whenhehasboundallthesetogether,andisnolongermany,buthasbecomeoneentirelytemperateandperfectlyadjustednature,thenheproceedstoact,ifhehastoact,whetherinamatterofproperty,orinthetreatmentofthebody,orinsomeaffairofpoliticsorprivatebusiness;alwaysthinkingandcallingthatwhichpreservesandco—operateswiththisharmoniouscondition,justandgoodaction,andtheknowledgewhichpresidesoverit,wisdom,andthatwhichatanytimeimpairsthiscondition,hewillcallunjustaction,andtheopinionwhichpresidesoveritignorance。
  Youhavesaidtheexacttruth,Socrates。
  Verygood;andifweweretoaffirmthatwehaddiscoveredthejustmanandthejustState,andthenatureofjusticeineachofthem,weshouldnotbetellingafalsehood?
  Mostcertainlynot。
  Maywesayso,then?
  Letussayso。
  Andnow,Isaid,injusticehastobeconsidered。
  Clearly。
  Mustnotinjusticebeastrifewhicharisesamongthethreeprinciples——ameddlesomeness,andinterference,andrisingupofapartofthesoulagainstthewhole,anassertionofunlawfulauthority,whichismadebyarebellioussubjectagainstatrueprince,ofwhomheisthenaturalvassal,——whatisallthisconfusionanddelusionbutinjustice,andintemperanceandcowardiceandignorance,andeveryformofvice?
  Exactlyso。
  Andifthenatureofjusticeandinjusticebeknown,thenthemeaningofactingunjustlyandbeingunjust,or,again,ofactingjustly,willalsobeperfectlyclear?
  Whatdoyoumean?hesaid。
  Why,Isaid,theyarelikediseaseandhealth;beinginthesouljustwhatdiseaseandhealthareinthebody。
  Howso?hesaid。
  Why,Isaid,thatwhichishealthycauseshealth,andthatwhichisunhealthycausesdisease。
  Yes。
  Andjustactionscausejustice,andunjustactionscauseinjustice?
  Thatiscertain。
  Andthecreationofhealthistheinstitutionofanaturalorderandgovernmentofonebyanotherinthepartsofthebody;andthecreationofdiseaseistheproductionofastateofthingsatvariancewiththisnaturalorder?
  True。
  Andisnotthecreationofjusticetheinstitutionofanaturalorderandgovernmentofonebyanotherinthepartsofthesoul,andthecreationofinjusticetheproductionofastateofthingsatvariancewiththenaturalorder?
  Exactlyso,hesaid。
  Thenvirtueisthehealthandbeautyandwell—beingofthesoul,andvicethediseaseandweaknessanddeformityofthesame?
  True。
  Anddonotgoodpracticesleadtovirtue,andevilpracticestovice?
  Assuredly。
  Stillouroldquestionofthecomparativeadvantageofjusticeandinjusticehasnotbeenanswered:Whichisthemoreprofitable,tobejustandactjustlyandpractisevirtue,whetherseenorunseenofgodsandmen,ortobeunjustandactunjustly,ifonlyunpunishedandunreformed?
  Inmyjudgment,Socrates,thequestionhasnowbecomeridiculous。Weknowthat,whenthebodilyconstitutionisgone,lifeisnolongerendurable,thoughpamperedwithallkindsofmeatsanddrinks,andhavingallwealthandallpower;andshallwebetoldthatwhentheveryessenceofthevitalprincipleisunderminedandcorrupted,lifeisstillworthhavingtoaman,ifonlyhebeallowedtodowhateverhelikeswiththesingleexceptionthatheisnottoacquirejusticeandvirtue,ortoescapefrominjusticeandvice;
  assumingthembothtobesuchaswehavedescribed?
  Yes,Isaid,thequestionis,asyousay,ridiculous。Still,aswearenearthespotatwhichwemayseethetruthintheclearestmannerwithourowneyes,letusnotfaintbytheway。
  Certainlynot,hereplied。
  Comeuphither,Isaid,andbeholdthevariousformsofvice,thoseofthem,Imean,whichareworthlookingat。
  Iamfollowingyou,hereplied:proceed。
  Isaid,Theargumentseemstohavereachedaheightfromwhich,asfromsometowerofspeculation,amanmaylookdownandseethatvirtueisone,butthattheformsofviceareinnumerable;therebeingfourspecialoneswhicharedeservingofnote。
  Whatdoyoumean?hesaid。
  Imean,Ireplied,thatthereappeartobeasmanyformsofthesoulastherearedistinctformsoftheState。
  Howmany?
  TherearefiveoftheState,andfiveofthesoul,Isaid。
  Whatarethey?
  Thefirst,Isaid,isthatwhichwehavebeendescribing,andwhichmaybesaidtohavetwonames,monarchyandaristocracy,accordinglyasruleisexercisedbyonedistinguishedmanorbymany。
  True,hereplied。
  ButIregardthetwonamesasdescribingoneformonly;forwhetherthegovernmentisinthehandsofoneormany,ifthegovernorshavebeentrainedinthemannerwhichwehavesupposed,thefundamentallawsoftheStatewillbemaintained。
  Thatistrue,hereplied。
  BOOKV
  SOCRATES—GLAUCON—ADEIMANTUS
  SUCHisthegoodandtrueCityorState,andthegoodandmanisofthesamepattern;andifthisisrighteveryotheriswrong;andtheevilisonewhichaffectsnotonlytheorderingoftheState,butalsotheregulationoftheindividualsoul,andisexhibitedinfourforms。
  Whatarethey?hesaid。
  Iwasproceedingtotelltheorderinwhichthefourevilformsappearedtometosucceedoneanother,whenPolemarchus,whowassittingalittlewayoff,justbeyondAdeimantus,begantowhispertohim:stretchingforthhishand,hetookholdoftheupperpartofhiscoatbytheshoulder,anddrewhimtowardshim,leaningforwardhimselfsoastobequitecloseandsayingsomethinginhisear,ofwhichIonlycaughtthewords,’Shallwelethimoff,orwhatshallwedo?
  Certainlynot,saidAdeimantus,raisinghisvoice。
  Whoisit,Isaid,whomyouarerefusingtoletoff?
  You,hesaid。
  Irepeated,WhyamIespeciallynottobeletoff?
  Why,hesaid,wethinkthatyouarelazy,andmeantocheatusoutofawholechapterwhichisaveryimportantpartofthestory;andyoufancythatweshallnotnoticeyourairywayofproceeding;asifitwereself—evidenttoeverybody,thatinthematterofwomenandchildren’friendshaveallthingsincommon。’
  AndwasInotright,Adeimantus?
  Yes,hesaid;butwhatisrightinthisparticularcase,likeeverythingelse,requirestobeexplained;forcommunitymaybeofmanykinds。Please,therefore,tosaywhatsortofcommunityyoumean。
  Wehavebeenlongexpectingthatyouwouldtellussomethingaboutthefamilylifeofyourcitizens——howtheywillbringchildrenintotheworld,andrearthemwhentheyhavearrived,and,ingeneral,whatisthenatureofthiscommunityofwomenandchildren—forweareofopinionthattherightorwrongmanagementofsuchmatterswillhaveagreatandparamountinfluenceontheStateforgoodorforevil。Andnow,sincethequestionisstillundetermined,andyouaretakinginhandanotherState,wehaveresolved,asyouheard,nottoletyougountilyougiveanaccountofallthis。
  Tothatresolution,saidGlaucon,youmayregardmeassayingAgreed。
  SOCRATES—ADEIMANTUS—GLAUCON—THRASYMACHUS
  Andwithoutmoreado,saidThrasymachus,youmayconsiderusalltobeequallyagreed。
  Isaid,Youknownotwhatyouaredoinginthusassailingme:WhatanargumentareyouraisingabouttheState!JustasIthoughtthatIhadfinished,andwasonlytoogladthatIhadlaidthisquestiontosleep,andwasreflectinghowfortunateIwasinyouracceptanceofwhatIthensaid,youaskmetobeginagainattheveryfoundation,ignorantofwhatahornet’snestofwordsyouarestirring。NowI
  foresawthisgatheringtrouble,andavoidedit。
  Forwhatpurposedoyouconceivethatwehavecomehere,saidThrasymachus,——tolookforgold,ortoheardiscourse?
  Yes,butdiscourseshouldhavealimit。
  Yes,Socrates,saidGlaucon,andthewholeoflifeistheonlylimitwhichwisemenassigntothehearingofsuchdiscourses。Butnevermindaboutus;takeheartyourselfandanswerthequestioninyourownway:Whatsortofcommunityofwomenandchildrenisthiswhichistoprevailamongourguardians?andhowshallwemanagetheperiodbetweenbirthandeducation,whichseemstorequirethegreatestcare?
  Tellushowthesethingswillbe。
  Yes,mysimplefriend,buttheansweristhereverseofeasy;manymoredoubtsariseaboutthisthanaboutourpreviousconclusions。
  Forthepracticabilityofwhatissaidmaybedoubted;andlookedatinanotherpointofview,whetherthescheme,ifeversopracticable,wouldbeforthebest,isalsodoubtful。HenceIfeelareluctancetoapproachthesubject,lestouraspiration,mydearfriend,shouldturnouttobeadreamonly。
  Fearnot,hereplied,foryouraudiencewillnotbeharduponyou;
  theyarenotscepticalorhostile。
  Isaid:Mygoodfriend,Isupposethatyoumeantoencouragemebythesewords。
  Yes,hesaid。
  Thenletmetellyouthatyouaredoingjustthereverse;theencouragementwhichyouofferwouldhavebeenallverywellhadI
  myselfbelievedthatIknewwhatIwastalkingabout:todeclarethetruthaboutmattersofhighinterestwhichamanhonoursandlovesamongwisemenwholovehimneedoccasionnofearorfalteringinhismind;buttocarryonanargumentwhenyouareyourselfonlyahesitatingenquirer,whichismycondition,isadangerousandslipperything;andthedangerisnotthatIshallbelaughedat(ofwhichthefearwouldbechildish),butthatIshallmissthetruthwhereIhavemostneedtobesureofmyfooting,anddragmyfriendsaftermeinmyfall。AndIprayNemesisnottovisituponmethewordswhichIamgoingtoutter。ForIdoindeedbelievethattobeaninvoluntaryhomicideisalesscrimethantobeadeceiveraboutbeautyorgoodnessorjusticeinthematteroflaws。AndthatisariskwhichIwouldratherrunamongenemiesthanamongfriends,andthereforeyoudowelltoencourageme。
  Glauconlaughedandsaid:Wellthen,Socrates,incaseyouandyourargumentdousanyseriousinjuryyoushallbeacquittedbeforehandoftheandshallnotbeheldtobeadeceiver;takecouragethenandspeak。
  Well,Isaid,thelawsaysthatwhenamanisacquittedheisfreefromguilt,andwhatholdsatlawmayholdinargument。
  Thenwhyshouldyoumind?
  Well,Ireplied,IsupposethatImustretracemystepsandsaywhatIperhapsoughttohavesaidbeforeintheproperplace。Thepartofthemenhasbeenplayedout,andnowproperlyenoughcomestheturnofthewomen。OfthemIwillproceedtospeak,andthemorereadilysinceIaminvitedbyyou。
  Formenbornandeducatedlikeourcitizens,theonlyway,inmyopinion,ofarrivingatarightconclusionaboutthepossessionanduseofwomenandchildrenistofollowthepathonwhichweoriginallystarted,whenwesaidthatthemenweretobetheguardiansandwatchdogsoftheherd。
  True。
  Letusfurthersupposethebirthandeducationofourwomentobesubjecttosimilarornearlysimilarregulations;thenweshallseewhethertheresultaccordswithourdesign。
  Whatdoyoumean?
  WhatImeanmaybeputintotheformofaquestion,Isaid:Aredogsdividedintohesandshes,ordotheybothshareequallyinhuntingandinkeepingwatchandintheotherdutiesofdogs?ordoweentrusttothemalestheentireandexclusivecareoftheflocks,whileweleavethefemalesathome,undertheideathatthebearingandsucklingtheirpuppiesislabourenoughforthem?
  No,hesaid,theysharealike;theonlydifferencebetweenthemisthatthemalesarestrongerandthefemalesweaker。
  Butcanyouusedifferentanimalsforthesamepurpose,unlesstheyarebredandfedinthesameway?
  Youcannot。
  Then,ifwomenaretohavethesamedutiesasmen,theymusthavethesamenurtureandeducation?
  Yes。
  Theeducationwhichwasassignedtothemenwasmusicandgymnastic。
  Yes。
  Thenwomenmustbetaughtmusicandgymnasticandalsotheartofwar,whichtheymustpractiselikethemen?
  Thatistheinference,Isuppose。
  Ishouldratherexpect,Isaid,thatseveralofourproposals,iftheyarecarriedout,beingunusual,mayappearridiculous。
  Nodoubtofit。
  Yes,andthemostridiculousthingofallwillbethesightofwomennakedinthepalaestra,exercisingwiththemen,especiallywhentheyarenolongeryoung;theycertainlywillnotbeavisionofbeauty,anymorethantheenthusiasticoldmenwhoinspiteofwrinklesanduglinesscontinuetofrequentthegymnasia。
  Yes,indeed,hesaid:accordingtopresentnotionstheproposalwouldbethoughtridiculous。
  Butthen,Isaid,aswehavedeterminedtospeakourminds,wemustnotfearthejestsofthewitswhichwillbedirectedagainstthissortofinnovation;howtheywilltalkofwomen’sattainmentsbothinmusicandgymnastic,andaboveallabouttheirwearingarmourandridinguponhorseback!
  Verytrue,hereplied。
  Yethavingbegunwemustgoforwardtotheroughplacesofthelaw;atthesametimebeggingofthesegentlemenforonceintheirlifetobeserious。Notlongago,asweshallremindthem,theHelleneswereoftheopinion,whichisstillgenerallyreceivedamongthebarbarians,thatthesightofanakedmanwasridiculousandimproper;andwhenfirsttheCretansandthentheLacedaemoniansintroducedthecustom,thewitsofthatdaymightequallyhaveridiculedtheinnovation。
  Nodoubt。
  Butwhenexperienceshowedthattoletallthingsbeuncoveredwasfarbetterthantocoverthemup,andtheludicrouseffecttotheoutwardeyevanishedbeforethebetterprinciplewhichreasonasserted,thenthemanwasperceivedtobeafoolwhodirectstheshaftsofhisridiculeatanyothersightbutthatoffollyandvice,orseriouslyinclinestoweighthebeautifulbyanyotherstandardbutthatofthegood。
  Verytrue,hereplied。
  First,then,whetherthequestionistobeputinjestorinearnest,letuscometoanunderstandingaboutthenatureofwoman:Isshecapableofsharingeitherwhollyorpartiallyintheactionsofmen,ornotatall?Andistheartofwaroneofthoseartsinwhichshecanorcannotshare?Thatwillbethebestwayofcommencingtheenquiry,andwillprobablyleadtothefairestconclusion。
  Thatwillbemuchthebestway。
  Shallwetaketheothersidefirstandbeginbyarguingagainstourselves;inthismannertheadversary’spositionwillnotbeundefended。
  Whynot?hesaid。
  Thenletusputaspeechintothemouthsofouropponents。Theywillsay:’SocratesandGlaucon,noadversaryneedconvictyou,foryouyourselves,atthefirstfoundationoftheState,admittedtheprinciplethateverybodywastodotheoneworksuitedtohisownnature。’Andcertainly,ifIamnotmistaken,suchanadmissionwasmadebyus。’Anddonotthenaturesofmenandwomendifferverymuchindeed?’Andweshallreply:Ofcoursetheydo。Thenweshallbeasked,’Whetherthetasksassignedtomenandtowomenshouldnotbedifferent,andsuchasareagreeabletotheirdifferentnatures?’
  Certainlytheyshould。’Butifso,haveyounotfallenintoaseriousinconsistencyinsayingthatmenandwomen,whosenaturesaresoentirelydifferent,oughttoperformthesameactions?’
  ——Whatdefencewillyoumakeforus,mygoodSir,againstanyonewhoofferstheseobjections?
  Thatisnotaneasyquestiontoanswerwhenaskedsuddenly;andI
  shallandIdobegofyoutodrawoutthecaseonourside。
  Thesearetheobjections,Glaucon,andtherearemanyothersofalikekind,whichIforesawlongago;theymademeafraidandreluctanttotakeinhandanylawaboutthepossessionandnurtureofwomenandchildren。
  ByZeus,hesaid,theproblemtobesolvedisanythingbuteasy。
  Whyyes,Isaid,butthefactisthatwhenamanisoutofhisdepth,whetherhehasfallenintoalittleswimmingbathorintomid—ocean,hehastoswimallthesame。
  Verytrue。