第19章

AndhowamItodoso？heasked。 Why，Isaid，weknowthatallgermsorseeds，whethervegetableoranimal，whentheyfailtomeetwithpropernutrimentorclimateorsoil，inproportiontotheirvigour，areallthemoresensitivetothewantofasuitableenvironment，forevilisagreaterenemytowhatisgoodthanwhatisnot。 Verytrue。 Thereisreasoninsupposingthatthefinestnatures，whenunderalienconditions，receivemoreinjurythantheinferior，becausethecontrastisgreater。 Certainly。 Andmaywenotsay，Adeimantus，thatthemostgiftedminds，whentheyareill—educated，becomepre—eminentlybad？Donotgreatcrimesandthespiritofpureevilspringoutofafulnessofnatureruinedbyeducationratherthanfromanyinferiority，whereasweaknaturesarescarcelycapableofanyverygreatgoodorverygreatevil？ ThereIthinkthatyouareright。 Andourphilosopherfollowsthesameanalogy—heislikeaplantwhich，havingpropernurture，mustnecessarilygrowandmatureintoallvirtue，but，ifsownandplantedinanaliensoil，becomesthemostnoxiousofallweeds，unlesshebepreservedbysomedivinepower。Doyoureallythink，aspeoplesooftensay，thatouryoutharecorruptedbySophists，orthatprivateteachersoftheartcorrupttheminanydegreeworthspeakingof？ArenotthepublicwhosaythesethingsthegreatestofallSophists？Anddotheynoteducatetoperfectionyoungandold，menandwomenalike，andfashionthemaftertheirownhearts？ Whenisthisaccomplished？hesaid。 Whentheymeettogether，andtheworldsitsdownatanassembly，orinacourtoflaw，oratheatre，oracamp，orinanyotherpopularresort，andthereisagreatuproar，andtheypraisesomethingswhicharebeingsaidordone，andblameotherthings，equallyexaggeratingboth，shoutingandclappingtheirhands，andtheechooftherocksandtheplaceinwhichtheyareassembledredoublesthesoundofthepraiseorblame——atsuchatimewillnotayoungman’sheart，astheysay，leapwithinhim？Willanyprivatetrainingenablehimtostandfirmagainsttheoverwhelmingfloodofpopularopinion？orwillhebecarriedawaybythestream？Willhenothavethenotionsofgoodandevilwhichthepublicingeneralhave——hewilldoastheydo，andastheyare，suchwillhebe？ Yes，Socrates；necessitywillcompelhim。 Andyet，Isaid，thereisastillgreaternecessity，whichhasnotbeenmentioned。 Whatisthat？ Thegentleforceofattainderorconfiscationordeathwhich，asyouareaware，thesenewSophistsandeducatorswhoarethepublic，applywhentheirwordsarepowerless。 Indeedtheydo；andinrightgoodearnest。 NowwhatopinionofanyotherSophist，orofanyprivateperson，canbeexpectedtoovercomeinsuchanunequalcontest？ None，hereplied。 No，indeed，Isaid，eventomaketheattemptisagreatpieceoffolly；thereneitheris，norhasbeen，noriseverlikelytobe，anydifferenttypeofcharacterwhichhashadnoothertraininginvirtuebutthatwhichissuppliedbypublicopinion——Ispeak，myfriend，ofhumanvirtueonly；whatismorethanhuman，astheproverbsays，isnotincluded：forIwouldnothaveyouignorantthat，inthepresentevilstateofgovernments，whateverissavedandcomestogoodissavedbythepowerofGod，aswemaytrulysay。 Iquiteassent，hereplied。 Thenletmecraveyourassentalsotoafurtherobservation。 Whatareyougoingtosay？ Why，thatallthosemercenaryindividuals，whomthemanycallSophistsandwhomtheydeemtobetheiradversaries，do，infact，teachnothingbuttheopinionofthemany，thatistosay，theopinionsoftheirassemblies；andthisistheirwisdom。Imightcomparethemtoamanwhoshouldstudythetempersanddesiresofamightystrongbeastwhoisfedbyhim—hewouldlearnhowtoapproachandhandlehim，alsoatwhattimesandfromwhatcausesheisdangerousorthereverse，andwhatisthemeaningofhisseveralcries，andbywhatsounds，whenanotheruttersthem，heissoothedorinfuriated；andyoumaysupposefurther，thatwhen，bycontinuallyattendinguponhim，hehasbecomeperfectinallthis，hecallshisknowledgewisdom，andmakesofitasystemorart，whichheproceedstoteach，althoughhehasnorealnotionofwhathemeansbytheprinciplesorpassionsofwhichheisspeaking，butcallsthishonourableandthatdishonourable，orgoodorevil，orjustorunjust，allinaccordancewiththetastesandtempersofthegreatbrute。Goodhepronouncestobethatinwhichthebeastdelightsandeviltobethatwhichhedislikes；andhecangivenootheraccountofthemexceptthatthejustandnoblearethenecessary，havingneverhimselfseen，andhavingnopowerofexplainingtoothersthenatureofeither，orthedifferencebetweenthem，whichisimmense。Byheaven，wouldnotsuchanonebearareeducator？ Indeed，hewould。 Andinwhatwaydoeshewhothinksthatwisdomisthediscernmentofthetempersandtastesofthemotleymultitude，whetherinpaintingormusic，or，finally，inpolitics，differfromhimwhomIhavebeendescribingForwhenamanconsortswiththemany，andexhibitstothemhispoemorotherworkofartortheservicewhichhehasdonetheState，makingthemhisjudgeswhenheisnotobliged，theso—callednecessityofDiomedewillobligehimtoproducewhatevertheypraise。Andyetthereasonsareutterlyludicrouswhichtheygiveinconfirmationoftheirownnotionsaboutthehonourableandgood。Didyoueverhearanyofthemwhichwerenot？ No，noramIlikelytohear。 YourecognisethetruthofwhatIhavebeensaying？Thenletmeaskyoutoconsiderfurtherwhethertheworldwilleverbeinducedtobelieveintheexistenceofabsolutebeautyratherthanofthemanybeautiful，oroftheabsoluteineachkindratherthanofthemanyineachkind？ Certainlynot。 Thentheworldcannotpossiblybeaphilosopher？ Impossible。 Andthereforephilosophersmustinevitablyfallunderthecensureoftheworld？ Theymust。 Andofindividualswhoconsortwiththemobandseektopleasethem？ Thatisevident。 Then，doyouseeanywayinwhichthephilosophercanbepreservedinhiscallingtotheend？andrememberwhatweweresayingofhim，thathewastohavequicknessandmemoryandcourageandmagnificence——thesewereadmittedbyustobethetruephilosopher’sgifts。 Yes。 Willnotsuchanonefromhisearlychildhoodbeinallthingsfirstamongall，especiallyifhisbodilyendowmentsarelikehismentalones？ Certainly，hesaid。 Andhisfriendsandfellow—citizenswillwanttousehimashegetsolderfortheirownpurposes？ Noquestion。 Fallingathisfeet，theywillmakerequeststohimanddohimhonourandflatterhim，becausetheywanttogetintotheirhandsnow，thepowerwhichhewillonedaypossess。 Thatoftenhappens，hesaid。 Andwhatwillamansuchashebelikelytodoundersuchcircumstances，especiallyifhebeacitizenofagreatcity，richandnoble，andatallproperyouth？Willhenotbefullofboundlessaspirations，andfancyhimselfabletomanagetheaffairsofHellenesandofbarbarians，andhavinggotsuchnotionsintohisheadwillhenotdilateandelevatehimselfinthefulnessofvainpompandsenselesspride？ Tobesurehewill。 Now，whenheisinthisstateofmind，ifsomeonegentlycomestohimandtellshimthatheisafoolandmustgetunderstanding，whichcanonlybegotbyslavingforit，doyouthinkthat，undersuchadversecircumstances，hewillbeeasilyinducedtolisten？ Farotherwise。 Andeveniftherebesomeonewhothroughinherentgoodnessornaturalreasonablenesshashadhiseyesopenedalittleandishumbledandtakencaptivebyphilosophy，howwillhisfriendsbehavewhentheythinkthattheyarelikelytolosetheadvantagewhichtheywerehopingtoreapfromhiscompanionship？Willtheynotdoandsayanythingtopreventhimfromyieldingtohisbetternatureandtorenderhisteacherpowerless，usingtothisendprivateintriguesaswellaspublicprosecutions？ Therecanbenodoubtofit。 Andhowcanonewhoisthuscircumstancedeverbecomeaphilosopher？ Impossible。 Thenwerewenotrightinsayingthateventheveryqualitieswhichmakeamanaphilosophermay，ifhebeill—educated，diverthimfromphilosophy，nolessthanrichesandtheiraccompanimentsandtheotherso—calledgoodsoflife？ Wewerequiteright。 Thus，myexcellentfriend，isbroughtaboutallthatruinandfailurewhichIhavebeendescribingofthenaturesbestadaptedtothebestofallpursuits；theyarenatureswhichwemaintaintoberareatanytime；thisbeingtheclassoutofwhichcomethemenwhoaretheauthorsofthegreatesteviltoStatesandindividuals；andalsoofthegreatestgoodwhenthetidecarriestheminthatdirection；butasmallmanneverwasthedoerofanygreatthingeithertoindividualsortoStates。 Thatismosttrue，hesaid。 Andsophilosophyisleftdesolate，withhermarriageriteincomplete：forherownhavefallenawayandforsakenher，andwhiletheyareleadingafalseandunbecominglife，otherunworthypersons，seeingthatshehasnokinsmentobeherprotectors，enterinanddishonourher；andfastenuponherthereproacheswhich，asyousay，herreproversutter，whoaffirmofhervotariesthatsomearegoodfornothing，andthatthegreaternumberdeservetheseverestpunishment。 Thatiscertainlywhatpeoplesay。 Yes；andwhatelsewouldyouexpect，Isaid，whenyouthinkofthepunycreatureswho，seeingthislandopentothem——alandwellstockedwithfairnamesandshowytitles——likeprisonersrunningoutofprisonintoasanctuary，takealeapoutoftheirtradesintophilosophy；thosewhodosobeingprobablythecleveresthandsattheirownmiserablecrafts？For，althoughphilosophybeinthisevilcase，stillthereremainsadignityaboutherwhichisnottobefoundinthearts。Andmanyarethusattractedbyherwhosenaturesareimperfectandwhosesoulsaremaimedanddisfiguredbytheirmeannesses，astheirbodiesarebytheirtradesandcrafts。Isnotthisunavoidable？ Yes。 Aretheynotexactlylikeabaldlittletinkerwhohasjustgotoutofduranceandcomeintoafortune；hetakesabathandputsonanewcoat，andisdeckedoutasabridegroomgoingtomarryhismaster’sdaughter，whoisleftpooranddesolate？ Amostexactparallel。 Whatwillbetheissueofsuchmarriages？Willtheynotbevileandbastard？ Therecanbenoquestionofit。 Andwhenpersonswhoareunworthyofeducationapproachphilosophyandmakeanalliancewithherwhoisarankabovethemwhatsortofideasandopinionsarelikelytobegenerated？Willtheynotbesophismscaptivatingtotheear，havingnothinginthemgenuine，orworthyoforakintotruewisdom？ Nodoubt，hesaid。 Then，Adeimantus，Isaid，theworthydisciplesofphilosophywillbebutasmallremnant：perchancesomenobleandwell—educatedperson，detainedbyexileinherservice，whointheabsenceofcorruptinginfluencesremainsdevotedtoher；orsomeloftysoulborninameancity，thepoliticsofwhichhecontemnsandneglects；andtheremaybeagiftedfewwholeavethearts，whichtheyjustlydespise，andcometoher；——orperadventuretherearesomewhoarerestrainedbyourfriendTheages’bridle；foreverythinginthelifeofTheagesconspiredtodiverthimfromphilosophy；butill—healthkepthimawayfrompolitics。Myowncaseoftheinternalsignishardlyworthmentioning，forrarely，ifever，hassuchamonitorbeengiventoanyotherman。Thosewhobelongtothissmallclasshavetastedhowsweetandblessedapossessionphilosophyis，andhavealsoseenenoughofthemadnessofthemultitude；andtheyknowthatnopoliticianishonest，noristhereanychampionofjusticeatwhosesidetheymayfightandbesaved。Suchanonemaybecomparedtoamanwhohasfallenamongwildbeasts——hewillnotjoininthewickednessofhisfellows，butneitherisheablesinglytoresistalltheirfiercenatures，andthereforeseeingthathewouldbeofnousetotheStateortohisfriends，andreflectingthathewouldhavetothrowawayhislifewithoutdoinganygoodeithertohimselforothers，heholdshispeace，andgoeshisownway。Heislikeonewho，inthestormofdustandsleetwhichthedrivingwindhurriesalong，retiresundertheshelterofawall；andseeingtherestofmankindfullofwickedness，heiscontent，ifonlyhecanlivehisownlifeandbepurefromevilorunrighteousness，anddepartinpeaceandgood—will，withbrighthopes。 Yes，hesaid，andhewillhavedoneagreatworkbeforehedeparts。 Agreatwork——yes；butnotthegreatest，unlesshefindaStatesuitabletohim；forinaStatewhichissuitabletohim，hewillhavealargergrowthandbethesaviourofhiscountry，aswellasofhimself。 Thecauseswhyphilosophyisinsuchanevilnamehavenowbeensufficientlyexplained：theinjusticeofthechargesagainstherhasbeenshown—isthereanythingmorewhichyouwishtosay？ Nothingmoreonthatsubject，hereplied；butIshouldliketoknowwhichofthegovernmentsnowexistingisinyouropiniontheoneadaptedtoher。 Notanyofthem，Isaid；andthatispreciselytheaccusationwhichIbringagainstthem——notoneofthemisworthyofthephilosophicnature，andhencethatnatureiswarpedandestranged； ——astheexoticseedwhichissowninaforeignlandbecomesdenaturalized，andiswonttobeoverpoweredandtoloseitselfinthenewsoil，evensothisgrowthofphilosophy，insteadofpersisting，degeneratesandreceivesanothercharacter。ButifphilosophyeverfindsintheStatethatperfectionwhichsheherselfis，thenwillbeseenthatsheisintruthdivine，andthatallotherthings，whethernaturesofmenorinstitutions，arebuthuman；——andnow，I knowthatyouaregoingtoask，whatthatStateis。 No，hesaid；thereyouarewrong，forIwasgoingtoaskanotherquestion——whetheritistheStateofwhich。wearethefoundersandinventors，orsomeother？ Yes，Ireplied，oursinmostrespects；butyoumayremembermysayingbefore，thatsomelivingauthoritywouldalwaysberequiredintheStatehavingthesameideaoftheconstitutionwhichguidedyouwhenaslegislatoryouwerelayingdownthelaws。 Thatwassaid，hereplied。 Yes，butnotinasatisfactorymanner；youfrightenedusbyinterposingobjections，whichcertainlyshowedthatthediscussionwouldbelonganddifficult；andwhatstillremainsisthereverseofeasy。 Whatisthereremaining？ ThequestionhowthestudyofphilosophymaybesoorderedasnottobetheruinoftheState：Allgreatattemptsareattendedwithrisk； ’hardisthegood，’asmensay。 Still，hesaid，letthepointbeclearedup，andtheenquirywillthenbecomplete。 Ishallnotbehindered，Isaid，byanywantofwill，but，ifatall，byawantofpower：myzealyoumayseeforyourselves；andpleasetoremarkinwhatIamabouttosayhowboldlyandunhesitatinglyIdeclarethatStatesshouldpursuephilosophy，notastheydonow，butinadifferentspirit。 Inwhatmanner？ Atpresent，Isaid，thestudentsofphilosophyarequiteyoung； beginningwhentheyarehardlypastchildhood，theydevoteonlythetimesavedfrommoneymakingandhousekeepingtosuchpursuits；andeventhoseofthemwhoarereputedtohavemostofthephilosophicspirit，whentheycomewithinsightofthegreatdifficultyofthesubject，Imeandialectic，takethemselvesoff。Inafterlifewheninvitedbysomeoneelse，theymay，perhaps，goandhearalecture，andaboutthistheymakemuchado，forphilosophyisnotconsideredbythemtobetheirproperbusiness：atlast，whentheygrowold，inmostcasestheyareextinguishedmoretrulythanHeracleitus’sun，inasmuchastheyneverlightupagain。 Butwhatoughttobetheircourse？ Justtheopposite。Inchildhoodandyouththeirstudy，andwhatphilosophytheylearn，shouldbesuitedtotheirtenderyears： duringthisperiodwhiletheyaregrowinguptowardsmanhood，thechiefandspecialcareshouldbegiventotheirbodiesthattheymayhavethemtouseintheserviceofphilosophy；aslifeadvancesandtheintellectbeginstomature，letthemincreasethegymnasticsofthesoul；butwhenthestrengthofourcitizensfailsandispastcivilandmilitaryduties，thenletthemrangeatwillandengageinnoseriouslabour，asweintendthemtolivehappilyhere，andtocrownthislifewithasimilarhappinessinanother。 Howtrulyinearnestyouare，Socrates！hesaid；Iamsureofthat；andyetmostofyourhearers，ifIamnotmistaken，arelikelytobestillmoreearnestintheiroppositiontoyou，andwillneverbeconvinced；Thrasymachusleastofall。 Donotmakeaquarrel，Isaid，betweenThrasymachusandme，whohaverecentlybecomefriends，although，indeed，wewereneverenemies； forIshallgoonstrivingtotheutmostuntilIeitherconverthimandothermen，ordosomethingwhichmayprofitthemagainstthedaywhentheyliveagain，andholdthelikediscourseinanotherstateofexistence。 Youarespeakingofatimewhichisnotverynear。 Rather，Ireplied，ofatimewhichisasnothingincomparisonwitheternity。Nevertheless，Idonotwonderthatthemanyrefusetobelieve；fortheyhaveneverseenthatofwhichwearenowspeakingrealised；theyhaveseenonlyaconventionalimitationofphilosophy，consistingofwordsartificiallybroughttogether，notliketheseofourshavinganaturalunity。Butahumanbeingwhoinwordandworkisperfectlymoulded，asfarashecanbe，intotheproportionandlikenessofvirtue——suchamanrulinginacitywhichbearsthesameimage，theyhaveneveryetseen，neitheronenormanyofthem——doyouthinkthattheyeverdid？ Noindeed。 No，myfriend，andtheyhaveseldom，ifever，heardfreeandnoblesentiments；suchasmenutterwhentheyareearnestlyandbyeverymeansintheirpowerseekingaftertruthforthesakeofknowledge，whiletheylookcoldlyonthesubtletiesofcontroversy，ofwhichtheendisopinionandstrife，whethertheymeetwiththeminthecourtsoflaworinsociety。 Theyarestrangers，hesaid，tothewordsofwhichyouspeak。 Andthiswaswhatweforesaw，andthiswasthereasonwhytruthforcedustoadmit，notwithoutfearandhesitation，thatneithercitiesnorStatesnorindividualswilleverattainperfectionuntilthesmallclassofphilosopherswhomwetermeduselessbutnotcorruptareprovidentiallycompelled，whethertheywillornot，totakecareoftheState，anduntilalikenecessitybelaidontheStatetoobeythem；oruntilkings，orifnotkings，thesonsofkingsorprinces，aredivinelyinspired’dwithatrueloveoftruephilosophy。Thateitherorbothofthesealternativesareimpossible，Iseenoreasontoaffirm：iftheywereso，wemightindeedbejustlyridiculedasdreamersandvisionaries。AmInotright？ Quiteright。 Ifthen，inthecountlessagesofthepast，oratthepresenthourinsomeforeignclimewhichisfarawayandbeyondourken，theperfectedphilosopherisorhasbeenorhereaftershallbecompelledbyasuperiorpowertohavethechargeoftheState，wearereadytoasserttothedeath，thatthisourconstitutionhasbeen，andis——yea，andwillbewhenevertheMuseofPhilosophyisqueen。Thereisnoimpossibilityinallthis；thatthereisadifficulty，weacknowledgeourselves。 Myopinionagreeswithyours，hesaid。 Butdoyoumeantosaythatthisisnottheopinionofthemultitude？ Ishouldimaginenot，hereplied。 Omyfriend，Isaid，donotattackthemultitude：theywillchangetheirminds，if，notinanaggressivespirit，butgentlyandwiththeviewofsoothingthemandremovingtheirdislikeofover—education，youshowthemyourphilosophersastheyreallyareanddescribeasyouwerejustnowdoingtheircharacterandprofession，andthenmankindwillseethatheofwhomyouarespeakingisnotsuchastheysupposed——iftheyviewhiminthisnewlight，theywillsurelychangetheirnotionofhim，andanswerinanotherstrain。Whocanbeatenmitywithonewholovesthem，whothatishimselfgentleandfreefromenvywillbejealousofoneinwhomthereisnojealousy？Nay，letmeanswerforyou，thatinafewthisharshtempermaybefoundbutnotinthemajorityofmankind。 Iquiteagreewithyou，hesaid。 Anddoyounotalsothink，asIdo，thattheharshfeelingwhichthemanyentertaintowardsphilosophyoriginatesinthepretenders，whorushinuninvited，andarealwaysabusingthem，andfindingfaultwiththem，whomakepersonsinsteadofthingsthethemeoftheirconversation？andnothingcanbemoreunbecominginphilosophersthanthis。 Itismostunbecoming。 Forhe，Adeimantus，whosemindisfixedupontruebeing，hassurelynotimetolookdownupontheaffairsofearth，ortobefilledwithmaliceandenvy，contendingagainstmen；hiseyeiseverdirectedtowardsthingsfixedandimmutable，whichheseesneitherinjuringnorinjuredbyoneanother，butallinordermovingaccordingtoreason； theseheimitates，andtothesehewill，asfarashecan，conformhimself。Canamanhelpimitatingthatwithwhichheholdsreverentialconverse？ Impossible。 Andthephilosopherholdingconversewiththedivineorder，becomesorderlyanddivine，asfarasthenatureofmanallows；butlikeeveryoneelse，hewillsufferfromdetraction。 Ofcourse。 Andifanecessitybelaiduponhimoffashioning，notonlyhimself，buthumannaturegenerally，whetherinStatesorindividuals，intothatwhichhebeholdselsewhere，willhe，thinkyou，beanunskilfulartificerofjustice，temperance，andeverycivilvirtue？ Anythingbutunskilful。 Andiftheworldperceivesthatwhatwearesayingabouthimisthetruth，willtheybeangrywithphilosophy？Willtheydisbelieveus，whenwetellthemthatnoStatecanbehappywhichisnotdesignedbyartistswhoimitatetheheavenlypattern？ Theywillnotbeangryiftheyunderstand，hesaid。Buthowwilltheydrawouttheplanofwhichyouarespeaking？ TheywillbeginbytakingtheStateandthemannersofmen，fromwhich，asfromatablet，theywillruboutthepicture，andleaveacleansurface。Thisisnoeasytask。Butwhethereasyornot，hereinwillliethedifferencebetweenthemandeveryotherlegislator，——theywillhavenothingtodoeitherwithindividualorState，andwillinscribenolaws，untiltheyhaveeitherfound，orthemselvesmade，acleansurface。 Theywillbeveryright，hesaid。 Havingeffectedthis，theywillproceedtotraceanoutlineoftheconstitution？ Nodoubt。 Andwhentheyarefillinginthework，asIconceive，theywilloftenturntheireyesupwardsanddownwards：Imeanthattheywillfirstlookatabsolutejusticeandbeautyandtemperance，andagainatthehumancopy；andwillmingleandtemperthevariouselementsoflifeintotheimageofaman；andthustheywillconceiveaccordingtothatotherimage，which，whenexistingamongmen，HomercallstheformandlikenessofGod。 Verytrue，hesaid。