第18章

Thenyouwouldinferthatopinionisintermediate？ Noquestion。 Butwerewenotsayingbefore，thatifanythingappearedtobeofasortwhichisandisnotatthesametime，thatsortofthingwouldappearalsotolieintheintervalbetweenpurebeingandabsolutenot—being；andthatthecorrespondingfacultyisneitherknowledgenorignorance，butwillbefoundintheintervalbetweenthem？ True。 Andinthatintervaltherehasnowbeendiscoveredsomethingwhichwecallopinion？ Therehas。 Thenwhatremainstobediscoveredistheobjectwhichpartakesequallyofthenatureofbeingandnot—being，andcannotrightlybetermedeither，pureandsimple；thisunknownterm，whendiscovered，wemaytrulycallthesubjectofopinion，andassigneachtoitsproperfaculty，—theextremestothefacultiesoftheextremesandthemeantothefacultyofthemean。 True。 Thisbeingpremised，Iwouldaskthegentlemanwhoisofopinionthatthereisnoabsoluteorunchangeableideaofbeauty——inwhoseopinionthebeautifulisthemanifold——he，Isay，yourloverofbeautifulsights，whocannotbeartobetoldthatthebeautifulisone，andthejustisone，orthatanythingisone——tohimIwouldappeal，saying，Willyoubesoverykind，sir，astotelluswhether，ofallthesebeautifulthings，thereisonewhichwillnotbefoundugly；orofthejust，whichwillnotbefoundunjust；oroftheholy，whichwillnotalsobeunholy？ No，hereplied；thebeautifulwillinsomepointofviewbefoundugly；andthesameistrueoftherest。 Andmaynotthemanywhicharedoublesbealsohalves？——doubles，thatis，ofonething，andhalvesofanother？ Quitetrue。 Andthingsgreatandsmall，heavyandlight，astheyaretermed，willnotbedenotedbytheseanymorethanbytheoppositenames？ True；boththeseandtheoppositenameswillalwaysattachtoallofthem。 Andcananyoneofthosemanythingswhicharecalledbyparticularnamesbesaidtobethisratherthannottobethis？ Hereplied：Theyarelikethepunningriddleswhichareaskedatfeastsorthechildren’spuzzleabouttheeunuchaimingatthebat，withwhathehithim，astheysayinthepuzzle，anduponwhatthebatwassitting。TheindividualobjectsofwhichIamspeakingarealsoariddle，andhaveadoublesense：norcanyoufixtheminyourmind，eitherasbeingornot—being，orboth，orneither。 Thenwhatwillyoudowiththem？Isaid。Cantheyhaveabetterplacethanbetweenbeingandnot—being？Fortheyareclearlynotingreaterdarknessornegationthannot—being，ormorefulloflightandexistencethanbeing。 Thatisquitetrue，hesaid。 Thusthenweseemtohavediscoveredthatthemanyideaswhichthemultitudeentertainaboutthebeautifulandaboutallotherthingsaretossingaboutinsomeregionwhichishalfwaybetweenpurebeingandpurenot—being？ Wehave。 Yes；andwehadbeforeagreedthatanythingofthiskindwhichwemightfindwastobedescribedasmatterofopinion，andnotasmatterofknowledge；beingtheintermediatefluxwhichiscaughtanddetainedbytheintermediatefaculty。 Quitetrue。 Thenthosewhoseethemanybeautiful，andwhoyetneitherseeabsolutebeauty，norcanfollowanyguidewhopointsthewaythither；whoseethemanyjust，andnotabsolutejustice，andthelike，——suchpersonsmaybesaidtohaveopinionbutnotknowledge？ Thatiscertain。 Butthosewhoseetheabsoluteandeternalandimmutablemaybesaidtoknow，andnottohaveopiniononly？ Neithercanthatbedenied。 Theonelovesandembracesthesubjectsofknowledge，theotherthoseofopinion？Thelatterarethesame，asIdaresaywillremember，wholistenedtosweetsoundsandgazeduponfaircolours，butwouldnottoleratetheexistenceofabsolutebeauty。 Yes，Iremember。 Shallwethenbeguiltyofanyimproprietyincallingthemloversofopinionratherthanloversofwisdom，andwilltheybeveryangrywithusforthusdescribingthem？ Ishalltellthemnottobeangry；nomanshouldbeangryatwhatistrue。 Butthosewholovethetruthineachthingaretobecalledloversofwisdomandnotloversofopinion。 Assuredly。 BOOKVI SOCRATES—GLAUCON ANDthus，Glaucon，aftertheargumenthasgoneawearyway，thetrueandthefalsephilosophershaveatlengthappearedinview。 Idonotthink，hesaid，thatthewaycouldhavebeenshortened。 Isupposenot，Isaid；andyetIbelievethatwemighthavehadabetterviewofbothofthemifthediscussioncouldhavebeenconfinedtothisonesubjectandiftherewerenotmanyotherquestionsawaitingus，whichhewhodesirestoseeinwhatrespectthelifeofthejustdiffersfromthatoftheunjustmustconsider。 Andwhatisthenextquestion？heasked。 Surely，Isaid，theonewhichfollowsnextinorder。Inasmuchasphilosophersonlyareabletograsptheeternalandunchangeable，andthosewhowanderintheregionofthemanyandvariablearenotphilosophers，ImustaskyouwhichofthetwoclassesshouldbetherulersofourState？ Andhowcanwerightlyanswerthatquestion？ WhicheverofthetwoarebestabletoguardthelawsandinstitutionsofourState——letthembeourguardians。 Verygood。 Neither，Isaid，cantherebeanyquestionthattheguardianwhoistokeepanythingshouldhaveeyesratherthannoeyes？ Therecanbenoquestionofthat。 Andarenotthosewhoareverilyandindeedwantingintheknowledgeofthetruebeingofeachthing，andwhohaveintheirsoulsnoclearpattern，andareunableaswithapainter’seyetolookattheabsolutetruthandtothatoriginaltorepair，andhavingperfectvisionoftheotherworldtoorderthelawsaboutbeauty，goodness，justiceinthis，ifnotalreadyordered，andtoguardandpreservetheorderofthem——arenotsuchpersons，Iask，simplyblind？ Truly，hereplied，theyaremuchinthatcondition。 Andshalltheybeourguardianswhenthereareotherswho，besidesbeingtheirequalsinexperienceandfallingshortoftheminnoparticularofvirtue，alsoknowtheverytruthofeachthing？ Therecanbenoreason，hesaid，forrejectingthosewhohavethisgreatestofallgreatqualities；theymustalwayshavethefirstplaceunlesstheyfailinsomeotherrespect。 Supposethen，Isaid，thatwedeterminehowfartheycanunitethisandtheotherexcellences。 Byallmeans。 Inthefirstplace，aswebeganbyobserving，thenatureofthephilosopherhastobeascertained。Wemustcometoanunderstandingabouthim，and，whenwehavedoneso，then，ifIamnotmistaken，weshallalsoacknowledgethatsuchanunionofqualitiesispossible，andthatthoseinwhomtheyareunited，andthoseonly，shouldberulersintheState。 Whatdoyoumean？ Letussupposethatphilosophicalmindsalwaysloveknowledgeofasortwhichshowsthemtheeternalnaturenotvaryingfromgenerationandcorruption。 Agreed。 Andfurther，Isaid，letusagreethattheyareloversofalltruebeing；thereisnopartwhethergreaterorless，ormoreorlesshonourable，whichtheyarewillingtorenounce；aswesaidbeforeoftheloverandthemanofambition。 True。 Andiftheyaretobewhatweweredescribing，istherenotanotherqualitywhichtheyshouldalsopossess？ Whatquality？ Truthfulness：theywillneverintentionallyreceiveintotheirmindfalsehood，whichistheirdetestation，andtheywilllovethetruth。 Yes，thatmaybesafelyaffirmedofthem。 ’Maybe，’myfriend，Ireplied，isnottheword；sayrather’mustbeaffirmed：’forhewhosenatureisamorousofanythingcannothelplovingallthatbelongsorisakintotheobjectofhisaffections。 Right，hesaid。 Andisthereanythingmoreakintowisdomthantruth？ Howcantherebe？ Canthesamenaturebealoverofwisdomandaloveroffalsehood？ Never。 Thetrueloveroflearningthenmustfromhisearliestyouth，asfarasinhimlies，desirealltruth？ Assuredly。 Butthenagain，asweknowbyexperience，hewhosedesiresarestronginonedirectionwillhavethemweakerinothers；theywillbelikeastreamwhichhasbeendrawnoffintoanotherchannel。 True。 Hewhosedesiresaredrawntowardsknowledgeineveryformwillbeabsorbedinthepleasuresofthesoul，andwillhardlyfeelbodilypleasure——Imean，ifhebeatruephilosopherandnotashamone。 Thatismostcertain。 Suchanoneissuretobetemperateandthereverseofcovetous；forthemotiveswhichmakeanothermandesirousofhavingandspending，havenoplaceinhischaracter。 Verytrue。 Anothercriterionofthephilosophicalnaturehasalsotobeconsidered。 Whatisthat？ Thereshouldbenosecretcornerofilliberality；nothingcanmoreantagonisticthanmeannesstoasoulwhichiseverlongingafterthewholeofthingsbothdivineandhuman。 Mosttrue，hereplied。 Thenhowcanhewhohasmagnificenceofmindandisthespectatorofalltimeandallexistence，thinkmuchofhumanlife？ Hecannot。 Orcansuchanoneaccountdeathfearful？ Noindeed。 Thenthecowardlyandmeannaturehasnopartintruephilosophy？ Certainlynot。 Oragain：canhewhoisharmoniouslyconstituted，whoisnotcovetousormean，oraboaster，oracoward—canhe，Isay，everbeunjustorhardinhisdealings？ Impossible。 Thenyouwillsoonobservewhetheramanisjustandgentle，orrudeandunsociable；thesearethesignswhichdistinguisheveninyouththephilosophicalnaturefromtheunphilosophical。 True。 Thereisanotherpointwhichshouldberemarked。 Whatpoint？ Whetherhehasorhasnotapleasureinlearning；fornoonewilllovethatwhichgiveshimpain，andinwhichaftermuchtoilhemakeslittleprogress。 Certainlynot。 Andagain，ifheisforgetfulandretainsnothingofwhathelearns，willhenotbeanemptyvessel？ Thatiscertain。 Labouringinvain，hemustendinhatinghimselfandhisfruitlessoccupation？Yes。 Thenasoulwhichforgetscannotberankedamonggenuinephilosophicnatures；wemustinsistthatthephilosophershouldhaveagoodmemory？ Certainly。 Andoncemore，theinharmoniousandunseemlynaturecanonlytendtodisproportion？ Undoubtedly。 Anddoyouconsidertruthtobeakintoproportionortodisproportion？ Toproportion。 Then，besidesotherqualities，wemusttrytofindanaturallywell—proportionedandgraciousmind，whichwillmovespontaneouslytowardsthetruebeingofeverything。 Certainly。 Well，anddonotallthesequalities，whichwehavebeenenumerating，gotogether，andaretheynot，inamanner，necessarytoasoul，whichistohaveafullandperfectparticipationofbeing？ Theyareabsolutelynecessary，hereplied。 Andmustnotthatbeablamelessstudywhichheonlycanpursuewhohasthegiftofagoodmemory，andisquicktolearn，——noble，gracious，thefriendoftruth，justice，courage，temperance，whoarehiskindred？ Thegodofjealousyhimself，hesaid，couldfindnofaultwithsuchastudy。 Andtomenlikehim，Isaid，whenperfectedbyyearsandeducation，andtotheseonlyyouwillentrusttheState。 SOCRATES—ADEIMANTUS HereAdeimantusinterposedandsaid：Tothesestatements，Socrates，noonecanofferareply；butwhenyoutalkinthisway，astrangefeelingpassesoverthemindsofyourhearers：Theyfancythattheyareledastrayalittleateachstepintheargument，owingtotheirownwantofskillinaskingandansweringquestions；theselittlesaccumulate，andattheendofthediscussiontheyarefoundtohavesustainedamightyoverthrowandalltheirformernotionsappeartobeturnedupsidedown。Andasunskilfulplayersofdraughtsareatlastshutupbytheirmoreskilfuladversariesandhavenopiecetomove，sotheytoofindthemselvesshutupatlast； fortheyhavenothingtosayinthisnewgameofwhichwordsarethecounters；andyetallthetimetheyareintheright。Theobservationissuggestedtomebywhatisnowoccurring。Foranyoneofusmightsay，thatalthoughinwordsheisnotabletomeetyouateachstepoftheargument，heseesasafactthatthevotariesofphilosophy，whentheycarryonthestudy，notonlyinyouthasapartofeducation，butasthepursuitoftheirmatureryears，mostofthembecomestrangemonsters，nottosayutterrogues，andthatthosewhomaybeconsideredthebestofthemaremadeuselesstotheworldbytheverystudywhichyouextol。 Well，anddoyouthinkthatthosewhosaysoarewrong？ Icannottell，hereplied；butIshouldliketoknowwhatisyouropinion。 Hearmyanswer；Iamofopinionthattheyarequiteright。 Thenhowcanyoubejustifiedinsayingthatcitieswillnotceasefromeviluntilphilosophersruleinthem，whenphilosophersareacknowledgedbyustobeofnousetothem？ Youaskaquestion，Isaid，towhichareplycanonlybegiveninaparable。 Yes，Socrates；andthatisawayofspeakingtowhichyouarenotatallaccustomed，Isuppose。 Iperceive，Isaid，thatyouarevastlyamusedathavingplungedmeintosuchahopelessdiscussion；butnowheartheparable，andthenyouwillbestillmoreamusedatthemeagrenessofmyimagination：forthemannerinwhichthebestmenaretreatedintheirownStatesissogrievousthatnosinglethingonearthiscomparabletoit；andtherefore，ifIamtopleadtheircause，Imusthaverecoursetofiction，andputtogetherafiguremadeupofmanythings，likethefabulousunionsofgoatsandstagswhicharefoundinpictures。 Imaginethenafleetorashipinwhichthereisacaptainwhoistallerandstrongerthananyofthecrew，butheisalittledeafandhasasimilarinfirmityinsight，andhisknowledgeofnavigationisnotmuchbetter。Thesailorsarequarrellingwithoneanotheraboutthesteering——everyoneisofopinionthathehasarighttosteer，thoughhehasneverlearnedtheartofnavigationandcannottellwhotaughthimorwhenhelearned，andwillfurtherassertthatitcannotbetaught，andtheyarereadytocutinpiecesanyonewhosaysthecontrary。Theythrongaboutthecaptain，beggingandprayinghimtocommitthehelmtothem；andifatanytimetheydonotprevail，butothersarepreferredtothem，theykilltheothersorthrowthemoverboard，andhavingfirstchainedupthenoblecaptain’ssenseswithdrinkorsomenarcoticdrug，theymutinyandtakepossessionoftheshipandmakefreewiththestores；thus，eatinganddrinking，theyproceedontheirvoyageinsuchamannerasmightbeexpectedofthem。Himwhoistheirpartisanandcleverlyaidsthemintheirplotforgettingtheshipoutofthecaptain’shandsintotheirownwhetherbyforceorpersuasion，theycomplimentwiththenameofsailor，pilot，ableseaman，andabusetheothersortofman，whomtheycallagood—for—nothing；butthatthetruepilotmustpayattentiontotheyearandseasonsandskyandstarsandwinds，andwhateverelsebelongstohisart，ifheintendstobereallyqualifiedforthecommandofaship，andthathemustandwillbethesteerer，whetherotherpeoplelikeornot—thepossibilityofthisunionofauthoritywiththesteerer’sarthasneverseriouslyenteredintotheirthoughtsorbeenmadepartoftheircalling。Nowinvesselswhichareinastateofmutinyandbysailorswhoaremutineers，howwillthetruepilotberegarded？Willhenotbecalledbythemaprater，astar—gazer，agood—for—nothing？ Ofcourse，saidAdeimantus。 Thenyouwillhardlyneed，Isaid，toheartheinterpretationofthefigure，whichdescribesthetruephilosopherinhisrelationtotheState；foryouunderstandalready。 Certainly。 Thensupposeyounowtakethisparabletothegentlemanwhoissurprisedatfindingthatphilosophershavenohonourintheircities； explainittohimandtrytoconvincehimthattheirhavinghonourwouldbefarmoreextraordinary。 Iwill。 Saytohim，that，indeemingthebestvotariesofphilosophytobeuselesstotherestoftheworld，heisright；butalsotellhimtoattributetheiruselessnesstothefaultofthosewhowillnotusethem，andnottothemselves。Thepilotshouldnothumblybegthesailorstobecommandedbyhim——thatisnottheorderofnature； neitherare’thewisetogotothedoorsoftherich’——theingeniousauthorofthissayingtoldalie——butthetruthis，that，whenamanisill，whetherheberichorpoor，tothephysicianhemustgo，andhewhowantstobegoverned，tohimwhoisabletogovern。Therulerwhoisgoodforanythingoughtnottobeghissubjectstoberuledbyhim；althoughthepresentgovernorsofmankindareofadifferentstamp；theymaybejustlycomparedtothemutinoussailors，andthetruehelmsmentothosewhoarecalledbythemgood—for—nothingsandstar—gazers。 Preciselyso，hesaid。 Forthesereasons，andamongmenlikethese，philosophy，thenoblestpursuitofall，isnotlikelytobemuchesteemedbythoseoftheoppositefaction；notthatthegreatestandmostlastinginjuryisdonetoherbyheropponents，butbyherownprofessingfollowers，thesameofwhomyousupposetheaccusertosay，thatthegreaternumberofthemarearrantrogues，andthebestareuseless；inwhichopinionIagreed。 Yes。 Andthereasonwhythegoodareuselesshasnowbeenexplained？ True。 Thenshallweproceedtoshowthatthecorruptionofthemajorityisalsounavoidable，andthatthisisnottobelaidtothechargeofphilosophyanymorethantheother？ Byallmeans。 Andletusaskandanswerinturn，firstgoingbacktothedescriptionofthegentleandnoblenature。Truth，asyouwillremember，washisleader，whomhefollowedalwaysandinallthings； failinginthis，hewasanimpostor，andhadnopartorlotintruephilosophy。 Yes，thatwassaid。 Well，andisnotthisonequality，tomentionnoothers，greatlyatvariancewithpresentnotionsofhim？ Certainly，hesaid。 Andhavewenotarighttosayinhisdefence，thatthetrueloverofknowledgeisalwaysstrivingafterbeing——thatishisnature；hewillnotrestinthemultiplicityofindividualswhichisanappearanceonly，butwillgoon——thekeenedgewillnotbeblunted，northeforceofhisdesireabateuntilhehaveattainedtheknowledgeofthetruenatureofeveryessencebyasympatheticandkindredpowerinthesoul，andbythatpowerdrawingnearandminglingandbecomingincorporatewithverybeing，havingbegottenmindandtruth，hewillhaveknowledgeandwillliveandgrowtruly，andthen，andnottillthen，willheceasefromhistravail。 Nothing，hesaid，canbemorejustthansuchadescriptionofhim。 Andwilltheloveofaliebeanypartofaphilosopher’snature？ Willhenotutterlyhatealie？ Hewill。 Andwhentruthisthecaptain，wecannotsuspectanyevilofthebandwhichheleads？ Impossible。 Justiceandhealthofmindwillbeofthecompany，andtemperancewillfollowafter？ True，hereplied。 NeitheristhereanyreasonwhyIshouldagainsetinarraythephilosopher’svirtues，asyouwilldoubtlessrememberthatcourage，magnificence，apprehension，memory，werehisnaturalgifts。Andyouobjectedthat，althoughnoonecoulddenywhatIthensaid，still，ifyouleavewordsandlookatfacts，thepersonswhoarethusdescribedaresomeofthemmanifestlyuseless，andthegreaternumberutterlydepraved；wewerethenledtoenquireintothegroundsoftheseaccusations，andhavenowarrivedatthepointofaskingwhyarethemajoritybad，whichquestionofnecessitybroughtusbacktotheexaminationanddefinitionofthetruephilosopher。 Exactly。 Andwehavenexttoconsidertheofthephilosophicnature，whysomanyarespoiledandsofewescapespoiling——Iamspeakingofthosewhoweresaidtobeuselessbutnotwicked——and，whenwehavedonewiththem，wewillspeakoftheimitatorsofphilosophy，whatmannerofmenaretheywhoaspireafteraprofessionwhichisabovethemandofwhichtheyareunworthy，andthen，bytheirmanifoldinconsistencies，bringuponphilosophy，anduponallphilosophers，thatuniversalreprobationofwhichwespeak。 Whatarethesecorruptions？hesaid。 IwillseeifIcanexplainthemtoyou。Everyonewilladmitthatanaturehavinginperfectionallthequalitieswhichwerequiredinaphilosopher，isarareplantwhichisseldomseenamongmen。 Rareindeed。 Andwhatnumberlessandpowerfulcausestendtodestroytheserarenatures！ Whatcauses？ Inthefirstplacetherearetheirownvirtues，theircourage，temperance，andtherestofthem，everyoneofwhichpraiseworthyqualities（andthisisamostsingularcircumstance）destroysanddistractsfromphilosophythesoulwhichisthepossessorofthem。 Thatisverysingular，hereplied。 Thentherearealltheordinarygoodsoflife——beauty，wealth，strength，rank，andgreatconnectionsintheState——youunderstandthesortofthings——thesealsohaveacorruptinganddistractingeffect。 Iunderstand；butIshouldliketoknowmorepreciselywhatyoumeanaboutthem。 Graspthetruthasawhole，Isaid，andintherightway；youwillthenhavenodifficultyinapprehendingtheprecedingremarks，andtheywillnolongerappearstrangetoyou。