第24章

Thenletusnowproceedtodescribetheinferiorsortofnatures，beingthecontentiousandambitious，whoanswertotheSpartanpolity； alsotheoligarchical，democratical，andtyrannical。Letusplacethemostjustbythesideofthemostunjust，andwhenweseethemweshallbeabletocomparetherelativehappinessorunhappinessofhimwholeadsalifeofpurejusticeorpureinjustice。Theenquirywillthenbecompleted。Andweshallknowwhetherweoughttopursueinjustice，asThrasymachusadvises，orinaccordancewiththeconclusionsoftheargumenttopreferjustice。 Certainly，hereplied，wemustdoasyousay。 Shallwefollowouroldplan，whichweadoptedwithaviewtoclearness，oftakingtheStatefirstandthenproceedingtotheindividual，andbeginwiththegovernmentofhonour？——Iknowofnonameforsuchagovernmentotherthantimocracy，orperhapstimarchy。Wewillcomparewiththisthelikecharacterintheindividual；and，afterthat，consideroligarchicalman；andthenagainwewillturnourattentiontodemocracyandthedemocraticalman； andlastly，wewillgoandviewthecityoftyranny，andoncemoretakealookintothetyrant’ssoul，andtrytoarriveatasatisfactorydecision。 Thatwayofviewingandjudgingofthematterwillbeverysuitable。 First，then，Isaid，letusenquirehowtimocracy（thegovernmentofhonour）arisesoutofaristocracy（thegovernmentofthebest）。 Clearly，allpoliticalchangesoriginateindivisionsoftheactualgoverningpower；agovernmentwhichisunited，howeversmall，cannotbemoved。 Verytrue，hesaid。 Inwhatway，then，willourcitybemoved，andinwhatmannerthetwoclassesofauxiliariesandrulersdisagreeamongthemselvesorwithoneanother？Shallwe，afterthemannerofHomer，praytheMusestotellus’howdiscordfirstarose’？Shallweimaginetheminsolemnmockery，toplayandjestwithusasifwewerechildren，andtoaddressusinaloftytragicvein，makingbelievetobeinearnest？ Howwouldtheyaddressus？ Afterthismanner：——Acitywhichisthusconstitutedcanhardlybeshaken；but，seeingthateverythingwhichhasabeginninghasalsoanend，evenaconstitutionsuchasyourswillnotlastforever，butwillintimebedissolved。Andthisisthedissolution：——Inplantsthatgrowintheearth，aswellasinanimalsthatmoveontheearth’ssurface，fertilityandsterilityofsoulandbodyoccurwhenthecircumferencesofthecirclesofeacharecompleted，whichinshort—livedexistencespassoverashortspace，andinlong—livedonesoveralongspace。Buttotheknowledgeofhumanfecundityandsterilityallthewisdomandeducationofyourrulerswillnotattain； thelawswhichregulatethemwillnotbediscoveredbyanintelligencewhichisalloyedwithsense，butwillescapethem，andtheywillbringchildrenintotheworldwhentheyoughtnot。Nowthatwhichisofdivinebirthhasaperiodwhichiscontainedinaperfectnumber，buttheperiodofhumanbirthiscomprehendedinanumberinwhichfirstincrementsbyinvolutionandevolution（orsquaredandcubed） obtainingthreeintervalsandfourtermsoflikeandunlike，waxingandwaningnumbers，makeallthetermscommensurableandagreeabletooneanother。Thebaseofthese（3）withathirdadded（4）whencombinedwithfive（20）andraisedtothethirdpowerfurnishestwoharmonies；thefirstasquarewhichisahundredtimesasgreat（400= 4X100），andtheotherafigurehavingonesideequaltotheformer，butoblong，consistingofahundrednumberssquareduponrationaldiametersofasquare（i。e。omittingfractions），thesideofwhichisfive（7X7=49X100=4900），eachofthembeinglessbyone（thantheperfectsquarewhichincludesthefractions，sc。50） orlessbytwoperfectsquaresofirrationaldiameters（ofasquarethesideofwhichisfive=50+50=100）；andahundredcubesofthree（27X100=2700+4900+400=8000）。Nowthisnumberrepresentsageometricalfigurewhichhascontroloverthegoodandevilofbirths。Forwhenyourguardiansareignorantofthelawofbirths，andunitebrideandbridegroomoutofseason，thechildrenwillnotbegoodlyorfortunate。Andthoughonlythebestofthemwillbeappointedbytheirpredecessors，stilltheywillbeunworthytoholdtheirfathers’places，andwhentheycomeintopowerasguardians，theywillsoonbefoundtofallintakingcareofus，theMuses，firstbyunder—valuingmusic；whichneglectwillsoonextendtogymnastic；andhencetheyoungmenofyourStatewillbelesscultivated。Inthesucceedinggenerationrulerswillbeappointedwhohavelosttheguardianpoweroftestingthemetalofyourdifferentraces，which，likeHesiod’s，areofgoldandsilverandbrassandiron。Andsoironwillbemingledwithsilver，andbrasswithgold，andhencetherewillarisedissimilarityandinequalityandirregularity，whichalwaysandinallplacesarecausesofhatredandwar。ThistheMusesaffirmtobethestockfromwhichdiscordhassprung，whereverarising；andthisistheiranswertous。 Yes，andwemayassumethattheyanswertruly。 Why，yes，Isaid，ofcoursetheyanswertruly；howcantheMusesspeakfalsely？ AndwhatdotheMusessaynext？ Whendiscordarose，thenthetworacesweredrawndifferentways： theironandbrassfelltoacquiringmoneyandlandandhousesandgoldandsilver；butthegoldandsilverraces，notwantingmoneybuthavingthetruerichesintheirownnature，inclinedtowardsvirtueandtheancientorderofthings。Therewasabattlebetweenthem，andatlasttheyagreedtodistributetheirlandandhousesamongindividualowners；andtheyenslavedtheirfriendsandmaintainers，whomtheyhadformerlyprotectedintheconditionoffreemen，andmadeofthemsubjectsandservants；andtheythemselveswereengagedinwarandinkeepingawatchagainstthem。 Ibelievethatyouhaverightlyconceivedtheoriginofthechange。 Andthenewgovernmentwhichthusariseswillbeofaformintermediatebetweenoligarchyandaristocracy？ Verytrue。 Suchwillbethechange，andafterthechangehasbeenmade，howwilltheyproceed？Clearly，thenewState，beinginameanbetweenoligarchyandtheperfectState，willpartlyfollowoneandpartlytheother，andwillalsohavesomepeculiarities。 True，hesaid。 Inthehonourgiventorulers，intheabstinenceofthewarriorclassfromagriculture，handicrafts，andtradeingeneral，intheinstitutionofcommonmeals，andintheattentionpaidtogymnasticsandmilitarytraining——inalltheserespectsthisStatewillresembletheformer。 True。 Butinthefearofadmittingphilosopherstopower，becausetheyarenolongertobehadsimpleandearnest，butaremadeupofmixedelements；andinturningfromthemtopassionateandlesscomplexcharacters，whoarebynaturefittedforwarratherthanpeace；andinthevaluesetbythemuponmilitarystratagemsandcontrivances，andinthewagingofeverlastingwars——thisStatewillbeforthemostpartpeculiar。 Yes。 Yes，Isaid；andmenofthisstampwillbecovetousofmoney，likethosewholiveinoligarchies；theywillhave，afiercesecretlongingaftergoldandsilver，whichtheywillhoardindarkplaces，havingmagazinesandtreasuriesoftheirownforthedepositandconcealmentofthem；alsocastleswhicharejustnestsfortheireggs，andinwhichtheywillspendlargesumsontheirwives，oronanyotherswhomtheyplease。 Thatismosttrue，hesaid。 Andtheyaremiserlybecausetheyhavenomeansofopenlyacquiringthemoneywhichtheyprize；theywillspendthatwhichisanotherman’sonthegratificationoftheirdesires，stealingtheirpleasuresandrunningawaylikechildrenfromthelaw，theirfather： theyhavebeenschoolednotbygentleinfluencesbutbyforce，fortheyhaveneglectedherwhoisthetrueMuse，thecompanionofreasonandphilosophy，andhavehonouredgymnasticmorethanmusic。 Undoubtedly，hesaid，theformofgovernmentwhichyoudescribeisamixtureofgoodandevil。 Why，thereisamixture，Isaid；butonething，andonethingonly，ispredominantlyseen，——thespiritofcontentionandambition；andtheseareduetotheprevalenceofthepassionateorspiritedelement。 Assuredly，hesaid。 SuchistheoriginandsuchthecharacterofthisState，whichhasbeendescribedinoutlineonly；themoreperfectexecutionwasnotrequired，forasketchisenoughtoshowthetypeofthemostperfectlyjustandmostperfectlyunjust；andtogothroughalltheStatesandallthecharactersofmen，omittingnoneofthem，wouldbeaninterminablelabour。 Verytrue，hereplied。 Nowwhatmananswerstothisformofgovernment—howdidhecomeintobeing，andwhatishelike？ SOCRATES—ADEIMANTUS Ithink，saidAdeimantus，thatinthespiritofcontentionwhichcharacteriseshim，heisnotunlikeourfriendGlaucon。 Perhaps，Isaid，hemaybelikehiminthatonepoint；butthereareotherrespectsinwhichheisverydifferent。 Inwhatrespects？ Heshouldhavemoreofself—assertionandbelesscultivated，andyetafriendofculture；andheshouldbeagoodlistener，butnospeaker。Suchapersonisapttoberoughwithslaves，unliketheeducatedman，whoistooproudforthat；andhewillalsobecourteoustofreemen，andremarkablyobedienttoauthority；heisaloverofpowerandaloverofhonour；claimingtobearuler，notbecauseheiseloquent，oronanygroundofthatsort，butbecauseheisasoldierandhasperformedfeatsofarms；heisalsoaloverofgymnasticexercisesandofthechase。 Yes，thatisthetypeofcharacterwhichanswerstotimocracy。 Suchanonewilldespiserichesonlywhenheisyoung；butashegetsolderhewillbemoreandmoreattractedtothem，becausehehasapieceoftheavariciousnatureinhim，andisnotsinglemindedtowardsvirtue，havinglosthisbestguardian。 Whowasthat？saidAdeimantus。 Philosophy，Isaid，temperedwithmusic，whocomesandtakesherabodeinaman，andistheonlysaviourofhisvirtuethroughoutlife。 Good，hesaid。 Such，Isaid，isthetimocraticalyouth，andheislikethetimocraticalState。 Exactly。 Hisoriginisasfollows：——Heisoftentheyoungsonofagravefather，whodwellsinanill—governedcity，ofwhichhedeclinesthehonoursandoffices，andwillnotgotolaw，orexerthimselfinanyway，butisreadytowaivehisrightsinorderthathemayescapetrouble。 Andhowdoesthesoncomeintobeing？ Thecharacterofthesonbeginstodevelopwhenhehearshismothercomplainingthatherhusbandhasnoplaceinthegovernment，ofwhichtheconsequenceisthatshehasnoprecedenceamongotherwomen。 Further，whensheseesherhusbandnotveryeageraboutmoney，andinsteadofbattlingandrailinginthelawcourtsorassembly，takingwhateverhappenstohimquietly；andwhensheobservesthathisthoughtsalwayscentreinhimself，whilehetreatsherwithveryconsiderableindifference，sheisannoyed，andsaystohersonthathisfatherisonlyhalfamanandfartooeasy—going：addingalltheothercomplaintsaboutherownill—treatmentwhichwomenaresofondofrehearsing。 Yes，saidAdeimantus，theygiveusplentyofthem，andtheircomplaintsaresolikethemselves。 Andyouknow，Isaid，thattheoldservantsalso，whoaresupposedtobeattachedtothefamily，fromtimetotimetalkprivatelyinthesamestraintotheson；andiftheyseeanyonewhoowesmoneytohisfather，oriswronginghiminanyway，andhefallstoprosecutethem，theytelltheyouththatwhenhegrowsuphemustretaliateuponpeopleofthissort，andbemoreofamanthanhisfather。Hehasonlytowalkabroadandhehearsandseesthesamesortofthing：thosewhodotheirownbusinessinthecityarecalledsimpletons，andheldinnoesteem，whilethebusy—bodiesarehonouredandapplauded。Theresultisthattheyoungman，hearingandseeingallthesething——hearingtoo，thewordsofhisfather，andhavinganearerviewofhiswayoflife，andmakingcomparisonsofhimandothers——isdrawnoppositeways：whilehisfatheriswateringandnourishingtherationalprincipleinhissoul，theothersareencouragingthepassionateandappetitive；andhebeingnotoriginallyofabadnature，buthavingkeptbadcompany，isatlastbroughtbytheirjointinfluencetoamiddlepoint，andgivesupthekingdomwhichiswithinhimtothemiddleprincipleofcontentiousnessandpassion，andbecomesarrogantandambitious。 Youseemtometohavedescribedhisoriginperfectly。 Thenwehavenow，Isaid，thesecondformofgovernmentandthesecondtypeofcharacter？ Wehave。 Next，letuslookatanothermanwho，asAeschylussays，IssetoveragainstanotherState； orrather，asourplanrequires，beginwiththeState。 Byallmeans。 Ibelievethatoligarchyfollowsnextinorder。 Andwhatmannerofgovernmentdoyoutermoligarchy？ Agovernmentrestingonavaluationofproperty，inwhichtherichhavepowerandthepoormanisdeprivedofit。 Iunderstand，hereplied。 OughtInottobeginbydescribinghowthechangefromtimocracytooligarchyarises？ Yes。 Well，Isaid，noeyesarerequiredinordertoseehowtheonepassesintotheother。 How？ Theaccumulationofgoldinthetreasuryofprivateindividualsisruintheoftimocracy；theyinventillegalmodesofexpenditure；forwhatdotheyortheirwivescareaboutthelaw？ Yes，indeed。 Andthenone，seeinganothergrowrich，seekstorivalhim，andthusthegreatmassofthecitizensbecomeloversofmoney。 Likelyenough。 Andsotheygrowricherandricher，andthemoretheythinkofmakingafortunethelesstheythinkofvirtue；forwhenrichesandvirtueareplacedtogetherinthescalesofthebalance，theonealwaysrisesastheotherfalls。 True。 AndinproportionasrichesandrichmenarehonouredintheState，virtueandthevirtuousaredishonoured。 Clearly。 Andwhatishonourediscultivated，andthatwhichhasnohonourisneglected。 Thatisobvious。 Andsoatlast，insteadoflovingcontentionandglory，menbecomeloversoftradeandmoney；theyhonourandlookuptotherichman，andmakearulerofhim，anddishonourthepoorman。 Theydoso。 Theynextproceedtomakealawwhichfixesasumofmoneyasthequalificationofcitizenship；thesumishigherinoneplaceandlowerinanother，astheoligarchyismoreorlessexclusive；andtheyallownoonewhosepropertyfallsbelowtheamountfixedtohaveanyshareinthegovernment。Thesechangesintheconstitutiontheyeffectbyforceofarms，ifintimidationhasnotalreadydonetheirwork。 Verytrue。 Andthis，speakinggenerally，isthewayinwhicholigarchyisestablished。 Yes，hesaid；butwhatarethecharacteristicsofthisformofgovernment，andwhatarethedefectsofwhichwewerespeaking？ Firstofall，Isaid，considerthenatureofthequalificationjustthinkwhatwouldhappenifpilotsweretobechosenaccordingtotheirproperty，andapoormanwererefusedpermissiontosteer，eventhoughhewereabetterpilot？ Youmeanthattheywouldshipwreck？ Yes；andisnotthistrueofthegovernmentofanything？ Ishouldimagineso。 Exceptacity？——orwouldyouincludeacity？ Nay，hesaid，thecaseofacityisthestrongestofall，inasmuchastheruleofacityisthegreatestandmostdifficultofall。 This，then，willbethefirstgreatdefectofoligarchy？ Clearly。 Andhereisanotherdefectwhichisquiteasbad。 Whatdefect？ Theinevitabledivision：suchaStateisnotone，buttwoStates，theoneofpoor，theotherofrichmen；andtheyarelivingonthesamespotandalwaysconspiringagainstoneanother。 That，surely，isatleastasbad。 Anotherdiscreditablefeatureis，that，foralikereason，theyareincapableofcarryingonanywar。Eithertheyarmthemultitude，andthentheyaremoreafraidofthemthanoftheenemy；or，iftheydonotcallthemoutinthehourofbattle，theyareoligarchsindeed，fewtofightastheyarefewtorule。Andatthesametimetheirfondnessformoneymakesthemunwillingtopaytaxes。 Howdiscreditable！ And，aswesaidbefore，undersuchaconstitutionthesamepersonshavetoomanycallings——theyarehusbandmen，tradesmen，warriors，allinone。Doesthatlookwell？ Anythingbutwell。 Thereisanotherevilwhichis，perhaps，thegreatestofall，andtowhichthisStatefirstbeginstobeliable。 Whatevil？ Amanmaysellallthathehas，andanothermayacquirehisproperty；yetafterthesalehemaydwellinthecityofwhichheisnolongerapart，beingneithertrader，norartisan，norhorseman，norhoplite，butonlyapoor，helplesscreature。 Yes，thatisanevilwhichalsofirstbeginsinthisState。 Theeviliscertainlynotpreventedthere；foroligarchieshaveboththeextremesofgreatwealthandutterpoverty。 True。 Butthinkagain：Inhiswealthydays，whilehewasspendinghismoney，wasamanofthissortawhitmoregoodtotheStateforthepurposesofcitizenship？Ordidheonlyseemtobeamemberoftherulingbody，althoughintruthhewasneitherrulernorsubject，butjustaspendthrift？ Asyousay，heseemedtobearuler，butwasonlyaspendthrift。 Maywenotsaythatthisisthedroneinthehousewhoislikethedroneinthehoneycomb，andthattheoneistheplagueofthecityastheotherisofthehive？ Justso，Socrates。 AndGodhasmadetheflyingdrones，Adeimantus，allwithoutstings，whereasofthewalkingdroneshehasmadesomewithoutstingsbutothershavedreadfulstings；ofthestinglessclassarethosewhointheiroldageendaspaupers；ofthestingerscomeallthecriminalclass，astheyaretermed。 Mosttrue，hesaid。 Clearlythen，wheneveryouseepaupersinaState，somewhereinthatneighborhoodtherearehiddenawaythieves，andcutpursesandrobbersoftemples，andallsortsofmalefactors。 Clearly。 Well，Isaid，andinoligarchicalStatesdoyounotfindpaupers？ Yes，hesaid；nearlyeverybodyisapauperwhoisnotaruler。 Andmaywebesoboldastoaffirmthattherearealsomanycriminalstobefoundinthem，rogueswhohavestings，andwhomtheauthoritiesarecarefultorestrainbyforce？ Certainly，wemaybesobold。 Theexistenceofsuchpersonsistobeattributedtowantofeducation，ill—training，andanevilconstitutionoftheState？ True。 Such，then，istheformandsucharetheevilsofoligarchy；andtheremaybemanyotherevils。 Verylikely。 Thenoligarchy，ortheformofgovernmentinwhichtherulersareelectedfortheirwealth，maynowbedismissed。LetusnextproceedtoconsiderthenatureandoriginoftheindividualwhoanswerstothisState。 Byallmeans。 Doesnotthetimocraticalmanchangeintotheoligarchicalonthiswise？ How？ Atimearriveswhentherepresentativeoftimocracyhasason：atfirsthebeginsbyemulatinghisfatherandwalkinginhisfootsteps，butpresentlyheseeshimofasuddenfounderingagainsttheStateasuponasunkenreef，andheandallthathehasislost； hemayhavebeenageneralorsomeotherhighofficerwhoisbroughttotrialunderaprejudiceraisedbyinformers，andeitherputtodeath，orexiled，ordeprivedoftheprivilegesofacitizen，andallhispropertytakenfromhim。 Nothingmorelikely。 Andthesonhasseenandknownallthis——heisaruinedman，andhisfearhastaughthimtoknockambitionandpassionhead—foremostfromhisbosom’sthrone；humbledbypovertyhetakestomoney—makingandbymeanandmiserlysavingsandhardworkgetsafortunetogether。 Isnotsuchanonelikelytoseattheconcupiscentandcovetouselementonthevacantthroneandtosufferittoplaythegreatkingwithinhim，girtwithtiaraandchainandscimitar？ Mosttrue，hereplied。 Andwhenhehasmadereasonandspiritsitdownonthegroundobedientlyoneithersideoftheirsovereign，andtaughtthemtoknowtheirplace，hecompelstheonetothinkonlyofhowlessersumsmaybeturnedintolargerones，andwillnotallowtheothertoworshipandadmireanythingbutrichesandrichmen，ortobeambitiousofanythingsomuchastheacquisitionofwealthandthemeansofacquiringit。 Ofallchanges，hesaid，thereisnonesospeedyorsosureastheconversionoftheambitiousyouthintotheavariciousone。 Andtheavaricious，Isaid，istheoligarchicalyouth？ Yes，hesaid；atanyratetheindividualoutofwhomhecameisliketheStateoutofwhicholigarchycame。 Letusthenconsiderwhetherthereisanylikenessbetweenthem。 Verygood。 First，then，theyresembleoneanotherinthevaluewhichtheysetuponwealth？ Certainly。 Alsointheirpenurious，laboriouscharacter；theindividualonlysatisfieshisnecessaryappetites，andconfineshisexpendituretothem；hisotherdesireshesubdues，undertheideathattheyareunprofitable。 True。 Heisashabbyfellow，whosavessomethingoutofeverythingandmakesapurseforhimself；andthisisthesortofmanwhomthevulgarapplaud。IshenotatrueimageoftheStatewhichherepresents？ Heappearstometobeso；atanyratemoneyishighlyvaluedbyhimaswellasbytheState。 Youseethatheisnotamanofcultivation，Isaid。 Iimaginenot，hesaid；hadhebeeneducatedhewouldneverhavemadeablindgoddirectorofhischorus，orgivenhimchiefhonour。 Excellent！Isaid。Yetconsider：Mustwenotfurtheradmitthatowingtothiswantofcultivationtherewillbefoundinhimdronelikedesiresasofpauperandrogue，whichareforciblykeptdownbyhisgeneralhabitoflife？ True。 Doyouknowwhereyouwillhavetolookifyouwanttodiscoverhisrogueries？ WheremustIlook？ Youshouldseehimwherehehassomegreatopportunityofactingdishonestly，asintheguardianshipofanorphan。 Aye。