第11章

Andsoingymnastics，ifamantakesviolentexerciseandisagreatfeeder，andthereverseofagreatstudentofmusicandphilosophy，atfirstthehighconditionofhisbodyfillshimwithprideandspirit，andliebecomestwicethemanthathewas。 Certainly。 Andwhathappens？ifhedonothingelse，andholdsnocon—aversewiththeMuses，doesnoteventhatintelligencewhichtheremaybeinhim，havingnotasteofanysortoflearningorenquiryorthoughtorculture，growfeebleanddullandblind，hismindneverwakinguporreceivingnourishment，andhissensesnotbeingpurgedoftheirmists？ True，hesaid。 Andheendsbybecomingahaterofphilosophy，uncivilized，neverusingtheweaponofpersuasion，——heislikeawildbeast，allviolenceandfierceness，andknowsnootherwayofdealing；andhelivesinallignoranceandevilconditions，andhasnosenseofproprietyandgrace。 Thatisquitetrue，hesaid。 Andastherearetwoprinciplesofhumannature，onethespiritedandtheotherthephilosophical，someGod，asIshouldsay，hasgivenmankindtwoartsansweringtothem（andonlyindirectlytothesoulandbody），inorderthatthesetwoprinciples（likethestringsofaninstrument）mayberelaxedordrawntighteruntiltheyaredulyharmonised。 Thatappearstobetheintention。 Andhewhominglesmusicwithgymnasticinthefairestproportions，andbestattempersthemtothesoul，mayberightlycalledthetruemusicianandharmonistinafarhighersensethanthetunerofthestrings。 Youarequiteright，Socrates。 AndsuchapresidinggeniuswillbealwaysrequiredinourStateifthegovernmentistolast。 Yes，hewillbeabsolutelynecessary。 Such，then，areourprinciplesofnurtureandeducation：Wherewouldbetheuseofgoingintofurtherdetailsaboutthedancesofourcitizens，orabouttheirhuntingandcoursing，theirgymnasticandequestriancontests？Fortheseallfollowthegeneralprinciple，andhavingfoundthat，weshallhavenodifficultyindiscoveringthem。 Idaresaythattherewillbenodifficulty。 Verygood，Isaid；thenwhatisthenextquestion？Mustwenotaskwhoaretoberulersandwhosubjects？ Certainly。 Therecanbenodoubtthattheeldermustruletheyounger。 Clearly。 Andthatthebestofthesemustrule。 Thatisalsoclear。 Now，arenotthebesthusbandmenthosewhoaremostdevotedtohusbandry？ Yes。 Andaswearetohavethebestofguardiansforourcity，musttheynotbethosewhohavemostthecharacterofguardians？ Yes。 Andtothisendtheyoughttobewiseandefficient，andtohaveaspecialcareoftheState？ True。 Andamanwillbemostlikelytocareaboutthatwhichheloves？ Tobesure。 Andhewillbemostlikelytolovethatwhichheregardsashavingthesameinterestswithhimself，andthatofwhichthegoodorevilfortuneissupposedbyhimatanytimemosttoaffecthisown？ Verytrue，hereplied。 Thentheremustbeaselection。Letusnoteamongtheguardiansthosewhointheirwholelifeshowthegreatesteagernesstodowhatisforthegoodoftheircountry，andthegreatestrepugnancetodowhatisagainstherinterests。 Thosearetherightmen。 Andtheywillhavetobewatchedateveryage，inorderthatwemayseewhethertheypreservetheirresolution，andnever，undertheinfluenceeitherofforceorenchantment，forgetorcastofftheirsenseofdutytotheState。 Howcastoff？hesaid。 Iwillexplaintoyou，Ireplied。Aresolutionmaygooutofaman’smindeitherwithhiswilloragainsthiswill；withhiswillwhenhegetsridofafalsehoodandlearnsbetter，againsthiswillwheneverheisdeprivedofatruth。 Iunderstand，hesaid，thewillinglossofaresolution；themeaningoftheunwillingIhaveyettolearn。 Why，Isaid，doyounotseethatmenareunwillinglydeprivedofgood，andwillinglyofevil？Isnottohavelostthetruthanevil，andtopossessthetruthagood？andyouwouldagreethattoconceivethingsastheyareistopossessthetruth？ Yes，hereplied；Iagreewithyouinthinkingthatmankindaredeprivedoftruthagainsttheirwill。 Andisnotthisinvoluntarydeprivationcausedeitherbytheft，orforce，orenchantment？ Still，hereplied，Idonotunderstandyou。 IfearthatImusthavebeentalkingdarkly，likethetragedians。 Ionlymeanthatsomemenarechangedbypersuasionandthatothersforget；argumentstealsawaytheheartsofoneclass，andtimeoftheother；andthisIcalltheft。Nowyouunderstandme？ Yes。 Thoseagainwhoareforcedarethosewhomtheviolenceofsomepainorgriefcompelstochangetheiropinion。 Iunderstand，hesaid，andyouarequiteright。 Andyouwouldalsoacknowledgethattheenchantedarethosewhochangetheirmindseitherunderthesofterinfluenceofpleasure，orthesternerinfluenceoffear？ Yes，hesaid；everythingthatdeceivesmaybesaidtoenchant。 Therefore，asIwasjustnowsaying，wemustenquirewhoarethebestguardiansoftheirownconvictionthatwhattheythinktheinterestoftheStateistobetheruleoftheirlives。Wemustwatchthemfromtheiryouthupwards，andmakethemperformactionsinwhichtheyaremostlikelytoforgetortobedeceived，andhewhoremembersandisnotdeceivedistobeselected，andhewhofallsinthetrialistoberejected。Thatwillbetheway？ Yes。 Andthereshouldalsobetoilsandpainsandconflictsprescribedforthem，inwhichtheywillbemadetogivefurtherproofofthesamequalities。 Veryright，hereplied。 Andthen，Isaid，wemusttrythemwithenchantmentsthatisthethirdsortoftest——andseewhatwillbetheirbehaviour：likethosewhotakecoltsamidnoiseandtumulttoseeiftheyareofatimidnature，somustwetakeouryouthamidterrorsofsomekind，andagainpassthemintopleasures，andprovethemmorethoroughlythangoldisprovedinthefurnace，thatwemaydiscoverwhethertheyarearmedagainstallenchantments，andofanoblebearingalways，goodguardiansofthemselvesandofthemusicwhichtheyhavelearned，andretainingunderallcircumstancesarhythmicalandharmoniousnature，suchaswillbemostserviceabletotheindividualandtotheState。Andhewhoateveryage，asboyandyouthandinmaturelife，hascomeoutofthetrialvictoriousandpure，shallbeappointedarulerandguardianoftheState；heshallbehonouredinlifeanddeath，andshallreceivesepultureandothermemorialsofhonour，thegreatestthatwehavetogive。Buthimwhofails，wemustreject。Iaminclinedtothinkthatthisisthesortofwayinwhichourrulersandguardiansshouldbechosenandappointed。Ispeakgenerally，andnotwithanypretensiontoexactness。 And，speakinggenerally，Iagreewithyou，hesaid。 Andperhapstheword’guardian’inthefullestsenseoughttobeappliedtothishigherclassonlywhopreserveusagainstforeignenemiesandmaintainpeaceamongourcitizensathome，thattheonemaynothavethewill，ortheothersthepower，toharmus。Theyoungmenwhomwebeforecalledguardiansmaybemoreproperlydesignatedauxiliariesandsupportersoftheprinciplesoftherulers。 Iagreewithyou，hesaid。 Howthenmaywedeviseoneofthoseneedfulfalsehoodsofwhichwelatelyspoke——justoneroyalliewhichmaydeceivetherulers，ifthatbepossible，andatanyratetherestofthecity？ Whatsortoflie？hesaid。 Nothingnew，Ireplied；onlyanoldPhoeniciantaleofwhathasoftenoccurredbeforenowinotherplaces，（asthepoetssay，andhavemadetheworldbelieve，）thoughnotinourtime，andIdonotknowwhethersuchaneventcouldeverhappenagain，orcouldnowevenbemadeprobable，ifitdid。 Howyourwordsseemtohesitateonyourlips！ Youwillnotwonder，Ireplied，atmyhesitationwhenyouhaveheard。 Speak，hesaid，andfearnot。 Wellthen，Iwillspeak，althoughIreallyknownothowtolookyouintheface，orinwhatwordstouttertheaudaciousfiction，whichIproposetocommunicategradually，firsttotherulers，thentothesoldiers，andlastlytothepeople。Theyaretobetoldthattheiryouthwasadream，andtheeducationandtrainingwhichtheyreceivedfromus，anappearanceonly；inrealityduringallthattimetheywerebeingformedandfedinthewomboftheearth，wheretheythemselvesandtheirarmsandappurtenancesweremanufactured； whentheywerecompleted，theearth，theirmother，sentthemup；andso，theircountrybeingtheirmotherandalsotheirnurse，theyareboundtoadviseforhergood，andtodefendheragainstattacks，andhercitizenstheyaretoregardaschildrenoftheearthandtheirownbrothers。 Youhadgoodreason，hesaid，tobeashamedoftheliewhichyouweregoingtotell。 True，Ireplied，butthereismorecoming；Ihaveonlytoldyouhalf。Citizens，weshallsaytotheminourtale，youarebrothers，yetGodhasframedyoudifferently。Someofyouhavethepowerofcommand，andinthecompositionofthesehehasmingledgold，whereforealsotheyhavethegreatesthonour；othershehasmadeofsilver，tobeauxillaries；othersagainwhoaretobehusbandmenandcraftsmenhehascomposedofbrassandiron；andthespecieswillgenerallybepreservedinthechildren。Butasallareofthesameoriginalstock，agoldenparentwillsometimeshaveasilverson，orasilverparentagoldenson。AndGodproclaimsasafirstprincipletotherulers，andaboveallelse，thatthereisnothingwhichshouldsoanxiouslyguard，orofwhichtheyaretobesuchgoodguardians，asofthepurityoftherace。Theyshouldobservewhatelementsmingleintheiroffspring；forifthesonofagoldenorsilverparenthasanadmixtureofbrassandiron，thennatureordersatranspositionofranks，andtheeyeoftherulermustnotbepitifultowardsthechildbecausehehastodescendinthescaleandbecomeahusbandmanorartisan，justastheremaybesonsofartisanswhohavinganadmixtureofgoldorsilverinthemareraisedtohonour，andbecomeguardiansorauxiliaries。ForanoraclesaysthatwhenamanofbrassorironguardstheState，itwillbedestroyed。Suchisthetale；isthereanypossibilityofmakingourcitizensbelieveinit？ Notinthepresentgeneration，hereplied；thereisnowayofaccomplishingthis；buttheirsonsmaybemadetobelieveinthetale，andtheirsons’sons，andposterityafterthem。 Iseethedifficulty，Ireplied；yetthefosteringofsuchabeliefwillmakethemcaremoreforthecityandforoneanother。 Enough，however，ofthefiction，whichmaynowflyabroaduponthewingsofrumour，whilewearmourearth—bornheroes，andleadthemforthunderthecommandoftheirrulers。Letthemlookroundandselectaspotwhencetheycanbestsuppressinsurrection，ifanyproverefractorywithin，andalsodefendthemselvesagainstenemies，wholikewolvesmaycomedownonthefoldfromwithout；thereletthemencamp，andwhentheyhaveencamped，letthemsacrificetotheproperGodsandpreparetheirdwellings。 Justso，hesaid。 Andtheirdwellingsmustbesuchaswillshieldthemagainstthecoldofwinterandtheheatofsummer。 Isupposethatyoumeanhouses，hereplied。 Yes，Isaid；buttheymustbethehousesofsoldiers，andnotofshop—keepers。 Whatisthedifference？hesaid。 ThatIwillendeavourtoexplain，Ireplied。Tokeepwatchdogs，who，fromwantofdisciplineorhunger，orsomeevilhabit，orevilhabitorother，wouldturnuponthesheepandworrythem，andbehavenotlikedogsbutwolves，wouldbeafoulandmonstrousthinginashepherd？ Trulymonstrous，hesaid。 Andthereforeeverycaremustbetakenthatourauxiliaries，beingstrongerthanourcitizens，maynotgrowtobetoomuchforthemandbecomesavagetyrantsinsteadoffriendsandallies？ Yes，greatcareshouldbetaken。 Andwouldnotareallygoodeducationfurnishthebestsafeguard？ Buttheyarewell—educatedalready，hereplied。 Icannotbesoconfident，mydearGlaucon，Isaid；Iammuchcertainthattheyoughttobe，andthattrueeducation，whateverthatmaybe，willhavethegreatesttendencytocivilizeandhumanizethemintheirrelationstooneanother，andtothosewhoareundertheirprotection。 Verytrue，hereplied。 Andnotonlytheireducation，buttheirhabitations，andallthatbelongstothem，shouldbesuchaswillneitherimpairtheirvirtueasguardians，nortemptthemtopreyupontheothercitizens。Anymanofsensemustacknowledgethat。 Hemust。 Thenletusconsiderwhatwillbetheirwayoflife，iftheyaretorealizeourideaofthem。Inthefirstplace，noneofthemshouldhaveanypropertyofhisownbeyondwhatisabsolutelynecessary； neithershouldtheyhaveaprivatehouseorstoreclosedagainstanyonewhohasamindtoenter；theirprovisionsshouldbeonlysuchasarerequiredbytrainedwarriors，whoaremenoftemperanceandcourage；theyshouldagreetoreceivefromthecitizensafixedrateofpay，enoughtomeettheexpensesoftheyearandnomore；andtheywillgoandlivetogetherlikesoldiersinacamp。GoldandsilverwewilltellthemthattheyhavefromGod；thedivinermetaliswithinthem，andtheyhavethereforenoneedofthedrosswhichiscurrentamongmen，andoughtnottopollutethedivinebyanysuchearthlyadmixture；forthatcommonermetalhasbeenthesourceofmanyunholydeeds，buttheirownisundefiled。Andtheyaloneofallthecitizensmaynottouchorhandlesilverorgold，orbeunderthesameroofwiththem，orwearthem，ordrinkfromthem。Andthiswillbetheirsalvation，andtheywillbethesavioursoftheState。Butshouldtheyeveracquirehomesorlandsormoneysoftheirown，theywillbecomehousekeepersandhusbandmeninsteadofguardians，enemiesandtyrantsinsteadofalliesoftheothercitizens；hatingandbeinghated，plottingandbeingplottedagainst，theywillpasstheirwholelifeinmuchgreaterterrorofinternalthanofexternalenemies，andthehourofruin，bothtothemselvesandtotherestoftheState，willbeathand。ForallwhichreasonsmaywenotsaythatthusshallourStatebeordered，andthattheseshallbetheregulationsappointedbyusforguardiansconcerningtheirhousesandallothermatters？otherYes，saidGlaucon。 BOOKIV ADEIMANTUS—SOCRATES HEREAdeimantusinterposedaquestion：Howwouldyouanswer，Socrates，saidhe，ifapersonweretosaythatyouaremakingthesepeoplemiserable，andthattheyarethecauseoftheirownunhappiness；thecityinfactbelongstothem，buttheyarenonethebetterforit；whereasothermenacquirelands，andbuildlargeandhandsomehouses，andhaveeverythinghandsomeaboutthem，offeringsacrificestothegodsontheirownaccount，andpractisinghospitality；moreover，asyouweresayingjustnow，theyhavegoldandsilver，andallthatisusualamongthefavouritesoffortune；butourpoorcitizensarenobetterthanmercenarieswhoarequarteredinthecityandarealwaysmountingguard？ Yes，Isaid；andyoumayaddthattheyareonlyfed，andnotpaidinadditiontotheirfood，likeothermen；andthereforetheycannot，iftheywould，takeajourneyofpleasure；theyhavenomoneytospendonamistressoranyotherluxuriousfancy，which，astheworldgoes，isthoughttobehappiness；andmanyotheraccusationsofthesamenaturemightbeadded。 But，saidhe，letussupposeallthistobeincludedinthecharge。 Youmeantoask，Isaid，whatwillbeouranswer？ Yes。 Ifweproceedalongtheoldpath，mybelief，Isaid，isthatweshallfindtheanswer。Andouranswerwillbethat，evenastheyare，ourguardiansmayverylikelybethehappiestofmen；butthatouraiminfoundingtheStatewasnotthedisproportionatehappinessofanyoneclass，butthegreatesthappinessofthewhole；wethoughtthatinaStatewhichisorderedwithaviewtothegoodofthewholeweshouldbemostlikelytofindJustice，andintheill—orderedStateinjustice：and，havingfoundthem，wemightthendecidewhichofthetwoisthehappier。Atpresent，Itakeit，wearefashioningthehappyState，notpiecemeal，orwithaviewofmakingafewhappycitizens，butasawhole；andby—and—bywewillproceedtoviewtheoppositekindofState。Supposethatwewerepaintingastatue，andsomeonecameuptousandsaid，Whydoyounotputthemostbeautifulcoloursonthemostbeautifulpartsofthebody——theeyesoughttobepurple，butyouhavemadethemblack——tohimwemightfairlyanswer，Sir，youwouldnotsurelyhaveusbeautifytheeyestosuchadegreethattheyarenolongereyes；considerratherwhether，bygivingthisandtheotherfeaturestheirdueproportion，wemakethewholebeautiful。AndsoIsaytoyou，donotcompelustoassigntotheguardiansasortofhappinesswhichwillmakethemanythingbutguardians；forwetoocanclotheourhusbandmeninroyalapparel，andsetcrownsofgoldontheirheads，andbidthemtillthegroundasmuchastheylike，andnomore。Ourpottersalsomightbeallowedtoreposeoncouches，andfeastbythefireside，passingroundthewinecup，whiletheirwheelisconvenientlyathand，andworkingatpotteryonlyasmuchastheylike；inthiswaywemightmakeeveryclasshappy—andthen，asyouimagine，thewholeStatewouldbehappy。Butdonotputthisideaintoourheads；for，ifwelistentoyou，thehusbandmanwillbenolongerahusbandman，thepotterwillceasetobeapotter，andnoonewillhavethecharacterofanydistinctclassintheState。Nowthisisnotofmuchconsequencewherethecorruptionofsociety，andpretensiontobewhatyouarenot，isconfinedtocobblers；butwhentheguardiansofthelawsandofthegovernmentareonlyseeminglyandnotrealguardians，thenseehowtheyturntheStateupsidedown；andontheotherhandtheyalonehavethepowerofgivingorderandhappinesstotheState。WemeanourguardianstobetruesavioursandnotthedestroyersoftheState，whereasouropponentisthinkingofpeasantsatafestival，whoareenjoyingalifeofrevelry，notofcitizenswhoaredoingtheirdutytotheState。But，ifso，wemeandifferentthings，andheisspeakingofsomethingwhichisnotaState。Andthereforewemustconsiderwhetherinappointingourguardianswewouldlooktotheirgreatesthappinessindividually，orwhetherthisprincipleofhappinessdoesnotratherresideintheStateasawhole。Butthelatterbethetruth，thentheguardiansandauxillaries，andallothersequallywiththem，mustbecompelledorinducedtodotheirownworkinthebestway。AndthusthewholeStatewillgrowupinanobleorder，andtheseveralclasseswillreceivetheproportionofhappinesswhichnatureassignstothem。 Ithinkthatyouarequiteright。 Iwonderwhetheryouwillagreewithanotherremarkwhichoccurstome。 Whatmaythatbe？ Thereseemtobetwocausesofthedeteriorationofthearts。 Whatarethey？ Wealth，Isaid，andpoverty。 Howdotheyact？ Theprocessisasfollows：Whenapotterbecomesrich，willhe，thinkyou，anylongertakethesamepainswithhisart？ Certainlynot。 Hewillgrowmoreandmoreindolentandcareless？ Verytrue。 Andtheresultwillbethathebecomesaworsepotter？ Yes；hegreatlydeteriorates。 But，ontheotherhand，ifhehasnomoney，andcannotprovidehimselftoolsorinstruments，hewillnotworkequallywellhimself，norwillheteachhissonsorapprenticestoworkequallywell。 Certainlynot。 Then，undertheinfluenceeitherofpovertyorofwealth，workmenandtheirworkareequallyliabletodegenerate？ Thatisevident。 Here，then，isadiscoveryofnewevils，Isaid，againstwhichtheguardianswillhavetowatch，ortheywillcreepintothecityunobserved。 Whatevils？ Wealth，Isaid，andpoverty；theoneistheparentofluxuryandindolence，andtheotherofmeannessandviciousness，andbothofdiscontent。 Thatisverytrue，hereplied；butstillIshouldliketoknow，Socrates，howourcitywillbeabletogotowar，especiallyagainstanenemywhoisrichandpowerful，ifdeprivedofthesinewsofwar。 Therewouldcertainlybeadifficulty，Ireplied，ingoingtowarwithonesuchenemy；butthereisnodifficultywheretherearetwoofthem。 Howso？heasked。 Inthefirstplace，Isaid，ifwehavetofight，oursidewillbetrainedwarriorsfightingagainstanarmyofrichmen。 Thatistrue，hesaid。 Anddoyounotsuppose，Adeimantus，thatasingleboxerwhowasperfectinhisartwouldeasilybeamatchfortwostoutandwell—to—dogentlemenwhowerenotboxers？ Hardly，iftheycameuponhimatonce。 What，not，Isaid，ifhewereabletorunawayandthenturnandstrikeattheonewhofirstcameup？Andsupposingheweretodothisseveraltimesundertheheatofascorchingsun，mighthenot，beinganexpert，overturnmorethanonestoutpersonage？ Certainly，hesaid，therewouldbenothingwonderfulinthat。 Andyetrichmenprobablyhaveagreatersuperiorityinthescienceandpracticeofboxingthantheyhaveinmilitaryqualities。 Likelyenough。 Thenwemayassumethatourathleteswillbeabletofightwithtwoorthreetimestheirownnumber？ Iagreewithyou，forIthinkyouright。 Andsupposethat，beforeengaging，ourcitizenssendanembassytooneofthetwocities，tellingthemwhatisthetruth：Silverandgoldweneitherhavenorarepermittedtohave，butyoumay；doyouthereforecomeandhelpusinwar，ofandtakethespoilsoftheothercity：Who，onhearingthesewords，wouldchoosetofightagainstleanwirydogs，ratherththan，withthedogsontheirside，againstfatandtendersheep？ Thatisnotlikely；andyettheremightbeadangertothepoorStateifthewealthofmanyStatesweretobegatheredintoone。 ButhowsimpleofyoutousethetermStateatallofanybutourown！ Whyso？ YououghttospeakofotherStatesinthepluralnumber；notoneofthemisacity，butmanycities，astheysayinthegame。Forindeedanycity，howeversmall，isinfactdividedintotwo，onethecityofthepoor，theotheroftherich；theseareatwarwithoneanother；andineithertherearemanysmallerdivisions，andyouwouldbealtogetherbesidethemarkifyoutreatedthemallasasingleState。Butifyoudealwiththemasmany，andgivethewealthorpowerorpersonsoftheonetotheothers，youwillalwayshaveagreatmanyfriendsandnotmanyenemies。AndyourState，whilethewiseorderwhichhasnowbeenprescribedcontinuestoprevailinher，willbethegreatestofStates，Idonotmeantosayinreputationorappearance，butindeedandtruth，thoughshenumbernotmorethanathousanddefenders。AsingleStatewhichisherequalyouwillhardlyfind，eitheramongHellenesorbarbarians，thoughmanythatappeartobeasgreatandmanytimesgreater。 Thatismosttrue，hesaid。 Andwhat，Isaid，willbethebestlimitforourrulerstofixwhentheyareconsideringthesizeoftheStateandtheamountofterritorywhichtheyaretoinclude，andbeyondwhichtheywillnotgo？ Whatlimitwouldyoupropose？ IwouldallowtheStatetoincreasesofarasisconsistentwithunity；that，Ithink，istheproperlimit。 Verygood，hesaid。