第21章

Anddoyounotknowalsothatalthoughtheymakeuseofthevisibleformsandreasonaboutthem，theyarethinkingnotofthese，butoftheidealswhichtheyresemble；notofthefigureswhichtheydraw，butoftheabsolutesquareandtheabsolutediameter，andsoon——theformswhichtheydrawormake，andwhichhaveshadowsandreflectionsinwateroftheirown，areconvertedbythemintoimages，buttheyarereallyseekingtobeholdthethingsthemselves，whichcanonlybeseenwiththeeyeofthemind？ Thatistrue。 AndofthiskindIspokeastheintelligible，althoughinthesearchafteritthesouliscompelledtousehypotheses；notascendingtoafirstprinciple，becausesheisunabletoriseabovetheregionofhypothesis，butemployingtheobjectsofwhichtheshadowsbelowareresemblancesintheirturnasimages，theyhavinginrelationtotheshadowsandreflectionsofthemagreaterdistinctness，andthereforeahighervalue。 Iunderstand，hesaid，thatyouarespeakingoftheprovinceofgeometryandthesisterarts。 AndwhenIspeakoftheotherdivisionoftheintelligible，youwillunderstandmetospeakofthatothersortofknowledgewhichreasonherselfattainsbythepowerofdialectic，usingthehypothesesnotasfirstprinciples，butonlyashypotheses——thatistosay，asstepsandpointsofdepartureintoaworldwhichisabovehypotheses，inorderthatshemaysoarbeyondthemtothefirstprincipleofthewhole；andclingingtothisandthentothatwhichdependsonthis，bysuccessivestepsshedescendsagainwithouttheaidofanysensibleobject，fromideas，throughideas，andinideassheends。 Iunderstandyou，hereplied；notperfectly，foryouseemtometobedescribingataskwhichisreallytremendous；but，atanyrate，I understandyoutosaythatknowledgeandbeing，whichthescienceofdialecticcontemplates，areclearerthanthenotionsofthearts，astheyaretermed，whichproceedfromhypothesesonly：thesearealsocontemplatedbytheunderstanding，andnotbythesenses：yet，becausetheystartfromhypothesesanddonotascendtoaprinciple，thosewhocontemplatethemappeartoyounottoexercisethehigherreasonuponthem，althoughwhenafirstprincipleisaddedtothemtheyarecognizablebythehigherreason。AndthehabitwhichisconcernedwithgeometryandthecognatesciencesIsupposethatyouwouldtermunderstandingandnotreason，asbeingintermediatebetweenopinionandreason。 Youhavequiteconceivedmymeaning，Isaid；andnow，correspondingtothesefourdivisions，lettherebefourfacultiesinthesoul—reasonansweringtothehighest，understandingtothesecond，faith（orconviction）tothethird，andperceptionofshadowstothelast—andlettherebeascaleofthem，andletussupposethattheseveralfacultieshaveclearnessinthesamedegreethattheirobjectshavetruth。 Iunderstand，hereplied，andgivemyassent，andacceptyourarrangement。 BOOKVII SOCRATES—GLAUCON ANDnow，Isaid，letmeshowinafigurehowfarournatureisenlightenedorunenlightened：——Behold！humanbeingslivinginaundergroundden，whichhasamouthopentowardsthelightandreachingallalongtheden；heretheyhavebeenfromtheirchildhood，andhavetheirlegsandneckschainedsothattheycannotmove，andcanonlyseebeforethem，beingpreventedbythechainsfromturningroundtheirheads。Aboveandbehindthemafireisblazingatadistance，andbetweenthefireandtheprisonersthereisaraisedway；andyouwillsee，ifyoulook，alowwallbuiltalongtheway，likethescreenwhichmarionetteplayershaveinfrontofthem，overwhichtheyshowthepuppets。 Isee。 Anddoyousee，Isaid，menpassingalongthewallcarryingallsortsofvessels，andstatuesandfiguresofanimalsmadeofwoodandstoneandvariousmaterials，whichappearoverthewall？Someofthemaretalking，otherssilent。 Youhaveshownmeastrangeimage，andtheyarestrangeprisoners。 Likeourselves，Ireplied；andtheyseeonlytheirownshadows，ortheshadowsofoneanother，whichthefirethrowsontheoppositewallofthecave？ True，hesaid；howcouldtheyseeanythingbuttheshadowsiftheywereneverallowedtomovetheirheads？ Andoftheobjectswhicharebeingcarriedinlikemannertheywouldonlyseetheshadows？ Yes，hesaid。 Andiftheywereabletoconversewithoneanother，wouldtheynotsupposethattheywerenamingwhatwasactuallybeforethem？ Verytrue。 Andsupposefurtherthattheprisonhadanechowhichcamefromtheotherside，wouldtheynotbesuretofancywhenoneofthepassers—byspokethatthevoicewhichtheyheardcamefromthepassingshadow？ Noquestion，hereplied。 Tothem，Isaid，thetruthwouldbeliterallynothingbuttheshadowsoftheimages。 Thatiscertain。 Andnowlookagain，andseewhatwillnaturallyfollowit’theprisonersarereleasedanddisabusedoftheirerror。Atfirst，whenanyofthemisliberatedandcompelledsuddenlytostandupandturnhisneckroundandwalkandlooktowardsthelight，hewillsuffersharppains；theglarewilldistresshim，andhewillbeunabletoseetherealitiesofwhichinhisformerstatehehadseentheshadows； andthenconceivesomeonesayingtohim，thatwhathesawbeforewasanillusion，butthatnow，whenheisapproachingnearertobeingandhiseyeisturnedtowardsmorerealexistence，hehasaclearervision，—whatwillbehisreply？Andyoumayfurtherimaginethathisinstructorispointingtotheobjectsastheypassandrequiringhimtonamethem，—willhenotbeperplexed？Willhenotfancythattheshadowswhichheformerlysawaretruerthantheobjectswhicharenowshowntohim？ Fartruer。 Andifheiscompelledtolookstraightatthelight，willhenothaveapaininhiseyeswhichwillmakehimturnawaytotakeandtakeintheobjectsofvisionwhichhecansee，andwhichhewillconceivetobeinrealityclearerthanthethingswhicharenowbeingshowntohim？ True，henowAndsupposeoncemore，thatheisreluctantlydraggedupasteepandruggedascent，andheldfastuntilhe’sforcedintothepresenceofthesunhimself，ishenotlikelytobepainedandirritated？Whenheapproachesthelighthiseyeswillbedazzled，andhewillnotbeabletoseeanythingatallofwhatarenowcalledrealities。 Notallinamoment，hesaid。 Hewillrequiretogrowaccustomedtothesightoftheupperworld。Andfirsthewillseetheshadowsbest，nextthereflectionsofmenandotherobjectsinthewater，andthentheobjectsthemselves； thenhewillgazeuponthelightofthemoonandthestarsandthespangledheaven；andhewillseetheskyandthestarsbynightbetterthanthesunorthelightofthesunbyday？ Certainly。 Lastofhewillbeabletoseethesun，andnotmerereflectionsofhiminthewater，buthewillseehiminhisownproperplace，andnotinanother；andhewillcontemplatehimasheis。 Certainly。 Hewillthenproceedtoarguethatthisishewhogivestheseasonandtheyears，andistheguardianofallthatisinthevisibleworld，andinacertainwaythecauseofallthingswhichheandhisfellowshavebeenaccustomedtobehold？ Clearly，hesaid，hewouldfirstseethesunandthenreasonabouthim。 Andwhenherememberedhisoldhabitation，andthewisdomofthedenandhisfellow—prisoners，doyounotsupposethathewouldfelicitatehimselfonthechange，andpitythem？ Certainly，hewould。 Andiftheywereinthehabitofconferringhonoursamongthemselvesonthosewhowerequickesttoobservethepassingshadowsandtoremarkwhichofthemwentbefore，andwhichfollowedafter，andwhichweretogether；andwhowerethereforebestabletodrawconclusionsastothefuture，doyouthinkthathewouldcareforsuchhonoursandglories，orenvythepossessorsofthem？WouldhenotsaywithHomer，Bettertobethepoorservantofapoormaster，andtoendureanything，ratherthanthinkastheydoandliveaftertheirmanner？ Yes，hesaid，Ithinkthathewouldrathersufferanythingthanentertainthesefalsenotionsandliveinthismiserablemanner。 Imagineoncemore，Isaid，suchanonecomingsuddenlyoutofthesuntobereplacedinhisoldsituation；wouldhenotbecertaintohavehiseyesfullofdarkness？ Tobesure，hesaid。 Andiftherewereacontest，andhehadtocompeteinmeasuringtheshadowswiththeprisonerswhohadnevermovedoutoftheden，whilehissightwasstillweak，andbeforehiseyeshadbecomesteady（andthetimewhichwouldbeneededtoacquirethisnewhabitofsightmightbeveryconsiderable）wouldhenotberidiculous？Menwouldsayofhimthatuphewentanddownhecamewithouthiseyes； andthatitwasbetternoteventothinkofascending；andifanyonetriedtolooseanotherandleadhimuptothelight，letthemonlycatchtheoffender，andtheywouldputhimtodeath。 Noquestion，hesaid。 Thisentireallegory，Isaid，youmaynowappend，dearGlaucon，tothepreviousargument；theprison—houseistheworldofsight，thelightofthefireisthesun，andyouwillnotmisapprehendmeifyouinterpretthejourneyupwardstobetheascentofthesoulintotheintellectualworldaccordingtomypoorbelief，which，atyourdesire，IhaveexpressedwhetherrightlyorwronglyGodknows。But，whethertrueorfalse，myopinionisthatintheworldofknowledgetheideaofgoodappearslastofall，andisseenonlywithaneffort； and，whenseen，isalsoinferredtobetheuniversalauthorofallthingsbeautifulandright，parentoflightandofthelordoflightinthisvisibleworld，andtheimmediatesourceofreasonandtruthintheintellectual；andthatthisisthepoweruponwhichhewhowouldactrationally，eitherinpublicorprivatelifemusthavehiseyefixed。 Iagree，hesaid，asfarasIamabletounderstandyou。 Moreover，Isaid，youmustnotwonderthatthosewhoattaintothisbeatificvisionareunwillingtodescendtohumanaffairs；fortheirsoulsareeverhasteningintotheupperworldwheretheydesiretodwell；whichdesireoftheirsisverynatural，ifourallegorymaybetrusted。 Yes，verynatural。 Andisthereanythingsurprisinginonewhopassesfromdivinecontemplationstotheevilstateofman，misbehavinghimselfinaridiculousmanner；if，whilehiseyesareblinkingandbeforehehasbecomeaccustomedtothesurroundingdarkness，heiscompelledtofightincourtsoflaw，orinotherplaces，abouttheimagesortheshadowsofimagesofjustice，andisendeavouringtomeettheconceptionsofthosewhohaveneveryetseenabsolutejustice？ Anythingbutsurprising，hereplied。 Anyonewhohascommonsensewillrememberthatthebewildermentsoftheeyesareoftwokinds，andarisefromtwocauses，eitherfromcomingoutofthelightorfromgoingintothelight，whichistrueofthemind’seye，quiteasmuchasofthebodilyeye；andhewhoremembersthiswhenheseesanyonewhosevisionisperplexedandweak，willnotbetooreadytolaugh；hewillfirstaskwhetherthatsoulofmanhascomeoutofthebrighterlight，andisunabletoseebecauseunaccustomedtothedark，orhavingturnedfromdarknesstothedayisdazzledbyexcessoflight。Andhewillcounttheonehappyinhisconditionandstateofbeing，andhewillpitytheother；or，ifhehaveamindtolaughatthesoulwhichcomesfrombelowintothelight，therewillbemorereasoninthisthaninthelaughwhichgreetshimwhoreturnsfromaboveoutofthelightintotheden。 That，hesaid，isaveryjustdistinction。 Butthen，ifIamright，certainprofessorsofeducationmustbewrongwhentheysaythattheycanputaknowledgeintothesoulwhichwasnottherebefore，likesightintoblindeyes。 Theyundoubtedlysaythis，hereplied。 Whereas，ourargumentshowsthatthepowerandcapacityoflearningexistsinthesoulalready；andthatjustastheeyewasunabletoturnfromdarknesstolightwithoutthewholebody，sotootheinstrumentofknowledgecanonlybythemovementofthewholesoulbeturnedfromtheworldofbecomingintothatofbeing，andlearnbydegreestoendurethesightofbeing，andofthebrightestandbestofbeing，orinotherwords，ofthegood。 Verytrue。 Andmusttherenotbesomeartwhichwilleffectconversionintheeasiestandquickestmanner；notimplantingthefacultyofsight，forthatexistsalready，buthasbeenturnedinthewrongdirection，andislookingawayfromthetruth？ Yes，hesaid，suchanartmaybepresumed。 Andwhereastheotherso—calledvirtuesofthesoulseemtobeakintobodilyqualities，forevenwhentheyarenotoriginallyinnatetheycanbeimplantedlaterbyhabitandexercise，theofwisdommorethananythingelsecontainsadivineelementwhichalwaysremains，andbythisconversionisrenderedusefulandprofitable；or，ontheotherhand，hurtfulanduseless。Didyouneverobservethenarrowintelligenceflashingfromthekeeneyeofacleverrogue——howeagerheis，howclearlyhispaltrysoulseesthewaytohisend；heisthereverseofblind，buthiskeeneyesightisforcedintotheserviceofevil，andheismischievousinproportiontohiscleverness。 Verytrue，hesaid。 Butwhatiftherehadbeenacircumcisionofsuchnaturesinthedaysoftheiryouth；andtheyhadbeenseveredfromthosesensualpleasures，suchaseatinganddrinking，which，likeleadenweights，wereattachedtothemattheirbirth，andwhichdragthemdownandturnthevisionoftheirsoulsuponthethingsthatarebelow——if，Isay，theyhadbeenreleasedfromtheseimpedimentsandturnedintheoppositedirection，theverysamefacultyinthemwouldhaveseenthetruthaskeenlyastheyseewhattheireyesareturnedtonow。 Verylikely。 Yes，Isaid；andthereisanotherthingwhichislikely。orratheranecessaryinferencefromwhathaspreceded，thatneithertheuneducatedanduninformedofthetruth，noryetthosewhonevermakeanendoftheireducation，willbeableministersofState；nottheformer，becausetheyhavenosingleaimofdutywhichistheruleofalltheiractions，privateaswellaspublic；northelatter，becausetheywillnotactatallexceptuponcompulsion，fancyingthattheyarealreadydwellingapartintheislandsoftheblest。 Verytrue，hereplied。 Then，Isaid，thebusinessofuswhoarethefoundersoftheStatewillbetocompelthebestmindstoattainthatknowledgewhichwehavealreadyshowntobethegreatestofall—theymustcontinuetoascenduntiltheyarriveatthegood；butwhentheyhaveascendedandseenenoughwemustnotallowthemtodoastheydonow。 Whatdoyoumean？ Imeanthattheyremainintheupperworld：butthismustnotbeallowed；theymustbemadetodescendagainamongtheprisonersintheden，andpartakeoftheirlaboursandhonours，whethertheyareworthhavingornot。 Butisnotthisunjust？hesaid；oughtwetogivethemaworselife，whentheymighthaveabetter？ Youhaveagainforgotten，myfriend，Isaid，theintentionofthelegislator，whodidnotaimatmakinganyoneclassintheStatehappyabovetherest；thehappinesswastobeinthewholeState，andheheldthecitizenstogetherbypersuasionandnecessity，makingthembenefactorsoftheState，andthereforebenefactorsofoneanother；tothisendhecreatedthem，nottopleasethemselves，buttobehisinstrumentsinbindinguptheState。 True，hesaid，Ihadforgotten。 Observe，Glaucon，thattherewillbenoinjusticeincompellingourphilosopherstohaveacareandprovidenceofothers；weshallexplaintothemthatinotherStates，menoftheirclassarenotobligedtoshareinthetoilsofpolitics：andthisisreasonable，fortheygrowupattheirownsweetwill，andthegovernmentwouldrathernothavethem。Beingself—taught，theycannotbeexpectedtoshowanygratitudeforaculturewhichtheyhaveneverreceived。Butwehavebroughtyouintotheworldtoberulersofthehive，kingsofyourselvesandoftheothercitizens，andhaveeducatedyoufarbetterandmoreperfectlythantheyhavebeeneducated，andyouarebetterabletoshareinthedoubleduty。Whereforeeachofyou，whenhisturncomes，mustgodowntothegeneralundergroundabode，andgetthehabitofseeinginthedark。Whenyouhaveacquiredthehabit，youwillseetenthousandtimesbetterthantheinhabitantsoftheden，andyouwillknowwhattheseveralimagesare，andwhattheyrepresent，becauseyouhaveseenthebeautifulandjustandgoodintheirtruth。AndthusourStatewhichisalsoyourswillbeareality，andnotadreamonly，andwillbeadministeredinaspiritunlikethatofotherStates，inwhichmenfightwithoneanotheraboutshadowsonlyandaredistractedinthestruggleforpower，whichintheireyesisagreatgood。WhereasthetruthisthattheStateinwhichtherulersaremostreluctanttogovernisalwaysthebestandmostquietlygoverned，andtheStateinwhichtheyaremosteager，theworst。 Quitetrue，hereplied。 Andwillourpupils，whentheyhearthis，refusetotaketheirturnatthetoilsofState，whentheyareallowedtospendthegreaterpartoftheirtimewithoneanotherintheheavenlylight？ Impossible，heanswered；fortheyarejustmen，andthecommandswhichweimposeuponthemarejust；therecanbenodoubtthateveryoneofthemwilltakeofficeasasternnecessity，andnotafterthefashionofourpresentrulersofState。 Yes，myfriend，Isaid；andthereliesthepoint。Youmustcontriveforyourfuturerulersanotherandabetterlifethanthatofaruler，andthenyoumayhaveawell—orderedState；foronlyintheStatewhichoffersthis，willtheyrulewhoaretrulyrich，notinsilverandgold，butinvirtueandwisdom，whicharethetrueblessingsoflife。Whereasiftheygototheadministrationofpublicaffairs，poorandhungeringafterthe’ownprivateadvantage，thinkingthathencetheyaretosnatchthechiefgood，ordertherecanneverbe；fortheywillbefightingaboutoffice，andthecivilanddomesticbroilswhichthusarisewillbetheruinoftherulersthemselvesandofthewholeState。 Mosttrue，hereplied。 Andtheonlylifewhichlooksdownuponthelifeofpoliticalambitionisthatoftruephilosophy。Doyouknowofanyother？ Indeed，Idonot，hesaid。 Andthosewhogovernoughtnottobeloversofthetask？For，iftheyare，therewillberivallovers，andtheywillfight。 Noquestion。 Whothenarethosewhomweshallcompeltobeguardians？SurelytheywillbethemenwhoarewisestaboutaffairsofState，andbywhomtheStateisbestadministered，andwhoatthesametimehaveotherhonoursandanotherandabetterlifethanthatofpolitics？ Theyarethemen，andIwillchoosethem，hereplied。 Andnowshallweconsiderinwhatwaysuchguardianswillbeproduced，andhowtheyaretobebroughtfromdarknesstolight，——assomearesaidtohaveascendedfromtheworldbelowtothegods？ Byallmeans，hereplied。 Theprocess，Isaid，isnottheturningoverofanoyster—shell，buttheturningroundofasoulpassingfromadaywhichislittlebetterthannighttothetruedayofbeing，thatis，theascentfrombelow，whichweaffirmtobetruephilosophy？ Quiteso。 Andshouldwenotenquirewhatsortofknowledgehasthepowerofeffectingsuchachange？ Certainly。 Whatsortofknowledgeistherewhichwoulddrawthesoulfrombecomingtobeing？Andanotherconsiderationhasjustoccurredtome：YouwillrememberthatouryoungmenaretobewarriorathletesYes，thatwassaid。 Thenthisnewkindofknowledgemusthaveanadditionalquality？ Whatquality？ Usefulnessinwar。 Yes，ifpossible。 Thereweretwopartsinourformerschemeofeducation，weretherenot？ Justso。 Therewasgymnasticwhichpresidedoverthegrowthanddecayofthebody，andmaythereforeberegardedashavingtodowithgenerationandcorruption？ True。 Thenthatisnottheknowledgewhichweareseekingtodiscover？No。 Butwhatdoyousayofmusic，whichalsoenteredtoacertainextentintoourformerscheme？ Music，hesaid，asyouwillremember，wasthecounterpartofgymnastic，andtrainedtheguardiansbytheinfluencesofhabit，byharmonymakingthemharmonious，byrhythmrhythmical，butnotgivingthemscience；andthewords，whetherfabulousorpossiblytrue，hadkindredelementsofrhythmandharmonyinthem。Butinmusictherewasnothingwhichtendedtothatgoodwhichyouarenowseeking。 Youaremostaccurate，Isaid，inyourrecollection；inmusictherecertainlywasnothingofthekind。Butwhatbranchofknowledgeisthere，mydearGlaucon，whichisofthedesirednature； sincealltheusefulartswerereckonedmeanbyus？ Undoubtedly；andyetifmusicandgymnasticareexcluded，andtheartsarealsoexcluded，whatremains？ Well，Isaid，theremaybenothingleftofourspecialsubjects；andthenweshallhavetotakesomethingwhichisnotspecial，butofuniversalapplication。 Whatmaythatbe？ Asomethingwhichallartsandsciencesandintelligencesuseincommon，andwhicheveryonefirsthastolearnamongtheelementsofeducation。 Whatisthat？ Thelittlematterofdistinguishingone，two，andthree——inaword，numberandcalculation：——donotallartsandsciencesnecessarilypartakeofthem？ Yes。 Thentheartofwarpartakesofthem？ Tothesure。 ThenPalamedes，wheneverheappearsintragedy，provesAgamemnonridiculouslyunfittobeageneral。Didyouneverremarkhowhedeclaresthathehadinventednumber，andhadnumberedtheshipsandsetinarraytheranksofthearmyatTroy；whichimpliesthattheyhadneverbeennumberedbefore，andAgamemnonmustbesupposedliterallytohavebeenincapableofcountinghisownfeet——howcouldheifhewasignorantofnumber？Andifthatistrue，whatsortofgeneralmusthehavebeen？ Ishouldsayaverystrangeone，ifthiswasasyousay。 Canwedenythatawarriorshouldhaveaknowledgeofarithmetic？ Certainlyheshould，ifheistohavethesmallestunderstandingofmilitarytactics，orindeed，Ishouldrathersay，ifheistobeamanatall。 IshouldliketoknowwhetheryouhavethesamenotionwhichI haveofthisstudy？ Whatisyournotion？ Itappearstometobeastudyofthekindwhichweareseeking，andwhichleadsnaturallytoreflection，butnevertohavebeenrightlyused；forthetrueuseofitissimplytodrawthesoultowardsbeing。 Willyouexplainyourmeaning？hesaid。 Iwilltry，Isaid；andIwishyouwouldsharetheenquirywithme，andsay’yes’or’no’whenIattempttodistinguishinmyownmindwhatbranchesofknowledgehavethisattractingpower，inorderthatwemayhaveclearerproofthatarithmeticis，asIsuspect，oneofthem。 Explain，hesaid。 Imeantosaythatobjectsofsenseareoftwokinds；someofthemdonotinvitethoughtbecausethesenseisanadequatejudgeofthem；whileinthecaseofotherobjectssenseissountrustworthythatfurtherenquiryisimperativelydemanded。 Youareclearlyreferring，hesaid，tothemannerinwhichthesensesareimposeduponbydistance，andbypaintinginlightandshade。 No，Isaid，thatisnotatallmymeaning。 Thenwhatisyourmeaning？