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。