第28章

Since，then，thepleasuresofeachclassandthelifeofeachareindispute，andthequestionisnotwhichlifeismoreorlesshonourable，orbetterorworse，butwhichisthemorepleasantorpainless——howshallweknowwhospeakstruly？ Icannotmyselftell，hesaid。 Well，butwhatoughttobethecriterion？Isanybetterthanexperienceandwisdomandreason？ Therecannotbeabetter，hesaid。 Then，Isaid，reflect。Ofthethreeindividuals，whichhasthegreatestexperienceofallthepleasureswhichweenumerated？Hastheloverofgain，inlearningthenatureofessentialtruth，greaterexperienceofthepleasureofknowledgethanthephilosopherhasofthepleasureofgain？ Thephilosopher，hereplied，hasgreatlytheadvantage；forhehasofnecessityalwaysknownthetasteoftheotherpleasuresfromhischildhoodupwards：buttheloverofgaininallhisexperiencehasnotofnecessitytasted——or，Ishouldrathersay，evenhadhedesired，couldhardlyhavetasted——thesweetnessoflearningandknowingtruth。 Thentheloverofwisdomhasagreatadvantageovertheloverofgain，forhehasadoubleexperience？ Yes，verygreat。 Again，hashegreaterexperienceofthepleasuresofhonour，ortheloverofhonourofthepleasuresofwisdom？ Nay，hesaid，allthreearehonouredinproportionastheyattaintheirobject；fortherichmanandthebravemanandthewisemanalikehavetheircrowdofadmirers，andastheyallreceivehonourtheyallhaveexperienceofthepleasuresofhonour；butthedelightwhichistobefoundintheknowledgeoftruebeingisknowntothephilosopheronly。 Hisexperience，then，willenablehimtojudgebetterthananyone？ Farbetter。 Andheistheonlyonewhohaswisdomaswellasexperience？ Certainly。 Further，theveryfacultywhichistheinstrumentofjudgmentisnotpossessedbythecovetousorambitiousman，butonlybythephilosopher？ Whatfaculty？ Reason，withwhom，asweweresaying，thedecisionoughttorest。 Yes。 Andreasoningispeculiarlyhisinstrument？ Certainly。 Ifwealthandgainwerethecriterion，thenthepraiseorblameoftheloverofgainwouldsurelybethemosttrustworthy？ Assuredly。 Orifhonourorvictoryorcourage，inthatcasethejudgementoftheambitiousorpugnaciouswouldbethetruest？ Clearly。 Butsinceexperienceandwisdomandreasonarethejudges—— Theonlyinferencepossible，hereplied，isthatpleasureswhichareapprovedbytheloverofwisdomandreasonarethetruest。 Andsowearriveattheresult，thatthepleasureoftheintelligentpartofthesoulisthepleasantestofthethree，andthatheofusinwhomthisistherulingprinciplehasthepleasantestlife。 Unquestionably，hesaid，thewisemanspeakswithauthoritywhenheapprovesofhisownlife。 Andwhatdoesthejudgeaffirmtobethelifewhichisnext，andthepleasurewhichisnext？ Clearlythatofthesoldierandloverofhonour；whoisnearertohimselfthanthemoney—maker。 Lastcomestheloverofgain？ Verytrue，hesaid。 Twiceinsuccession，then，hasthejustmanoverthrowntheunjustinthisconflict；andnowcomesthethirdtrial，whichisdedicatedtoOlympianZeusthesaviour：asagewhispersinmyearthatnopleasureexceptthatofthewiseisquitetrueandpure——allothersareashadowonly；andsurelythiswillprovethegreatestandmostdecisiveoffalls？ Yes，thegreatest；butwillyouexplainyourself？ Iwillworkoutthesubjectandyoushallanswermyquestions。 Proceed。 Say，then，isnotpleasureopposedtopain？ True。 Andthereisaneutralstatewhichisneitherpleasurenorpain？ Thereis。 Astatewhichisintermediate，andasortofreposeofthesoulabouteither——thatiswhatyoumean？ Yes。 Yourememberwhatpeoplesaywhentheyaresick？ Whatdotheysay？ Thatafterallnothingispleasanterthanhealth。Butthentheyneverknewthistobethegreatestofpleasuresuntiltheywereill。 Yes，Iknow，hesaid。 Andwhenpersonsaresufferingfromacutepain，youmust。haveheardthemsaythatthereisnothingpleasanterthantogetridoftheirpain？ Ihave。 Andtherearemanyothercasesofsufferinginwhichthemererestandcessationofpain，andnotanypositiveenjoyment，isextolledbythemasthegreatestpleasure？ Yes，hesaid；atthetimetheyarepleasedandwellcontenttobeatrest。 Again，whenpleasureceases，thatsortofrestorcessationwillbepainful？ Doubtless，hesaid。 Thentheintermediatestateofrestwillbepleasureandwillalsobepain？ Soitwouldseem。 Butcanthatwhichisneitherbecomeboth？ Ishouldsaynot。 Andbothpleasureandpainaremotionsofthesoul，aretheynot？ Yes。 Butthatwhichisneitherwasjustnowshowntoberestandnotmotion，andinameanbetweenthem？ Yes。 How，then，canweberightinsupposingthattheabsenceofpainispleasure，orthattheabsenceofpleasureispain？ Impossible。 Thisthenisanappearanceonlyandnotareality；thatistcsay，therestispleasureatthemomentandincomparisonofwhatispainful，andpainfulincomparisonofwhatispleasant；butalltheserepresentations，whentriedbythetestoftruepleasure，arenotrealbutasortofimposition？ Thatistheinference。 Lookattheotherclassofpleasureswhichhavenoantecedentpainsandyouwillnolongersuppose，asyouperhapsmayatpresent，thatpleasureisonlythecessationofpain，orpainofpleasure。 Whatarethey，hesaid，andwhereshallIfindthem？ Therearemanyofthem：takeasanexamplethepleasures，ofsmell，whichareverygreatandhavenoantecedentpains；theycomeinamoment，andwhentheydepartleavenopainbehindthem。 Mosttrue，hesaid。 Letusnot，then，beinducedtobelievethatpurepleasureisthecessationofpain，orpainofpleasure。 No。 Still，themorenumerousandviolentpleasureswhichreachthesoulthroughthebodyaregenerallyofthissort——theyarereliefsofpain。 Thatistrue。 Andtheanticipationsoffuturepleasuresandpainsareofalikenature？ Yes。 ShallIgiveyouanillustrationofthem？ Letmehear。 Youwouldallow，Isaid，thatthereisinnatureanupperandlowerandmiddleregion？ Ishould。 Andifapersonweretogofromthelowertothemiddleregion，wouldhenotimaginethatheisgoingup；andhewhoisstandinginthemiddleandseeswhencehehascome，wouldimaginethatheisalreadyintheupperregion，ifhehasneverseenthetrueupperworld？ Tobesure，hesaid；howcanhethinkotherwise？ Butifheweretakenbackagainhewouldimagine，andtrulyimagine，thathewasdescending？ Nodoubt。 Allthatwouldariseoutofhisignoranceofthetrueupperandmiddleandlowerregions？ Yes。 Thencanyouwonderthatpersonswhoareinexperiencedinthetruth，astheyhavewrongideasaboutmanyotherthings，shouldalsohavewrongideasaboutpleasureandpainandtheintermediatestate；sothatwhentheyareonlybeingdrawntowardsthepainfultheyfeelpainandthinkthepainwhichtheyexperiencetobereal，andinlikemanner，whendrawnawayfrompaintotheneutralorintermediatestate，theyfirmlybelievethattheyhavereachedthegoalofsatietyandpleasure；they，notknowingpleasure，errincontrastingpainwiththeabsenceofpain。whichislikecontrastingblackwithgreyinsteadofwhite——canyouwonder，Isay，atthis？ No，indeed；Ishouldbemuchmoredisposedtowonderattheopposite。 Lookatthematterthus：——Hunger，thirst，andthelike，areinanitionsofthebodilystate？ Yes。 Andignoranceandfollyareinanitionsofthesoul？ True。 Andfoodandwisdomarethecorrespondingsatisfactionsofeither？ Certainly。 Andisthesatisfactionderivedfromthatwhichhaslessorfromthatwhichhasmoreexistencethetruer？ Clearly，fromthatwhichhasmore。 Whatclassesofthingshaveagreatershareofpureexistenceinyourjudgment——thoseofwhichfoodanddrinkandcondimentsandallkindsofsustenanceareexamples，ortheclasswhichcontainstrueopinionandknowledgeandmindandallthedifferentkindsofvirtue？Putthequestioninthisway：——Whichhasamorepurebeing——thatwhichisconcernedwiththeinvariable，theimmortal，andthetrue，andisofsuchanature，andisfoundinsuchnatures；orthatwhichisconcernedwithandfoundinthevariableandmortal，andisitselfvariableandmortal？ Farpurer，hereplied，isthebeingofthatwhichisconcernedwiththeinvariable。 Anddoestheessenceoftheinvariablepartakeofknowledgeinthesamedegreeasofessence？ Yes，ofknowledgeinthesamedegree。 Andoftruthinthesamedegree？ Yes。 And，conversely，thatwhichhaslessoftruthwillalsohavelessofessence？ Necessarily。 Then，ingeneral，thosekindsofthingswhichareintheserviceofthebodyhavelessoftruthandessencethanthosewhichareintheserviceofthesoul？ Farless。 Andhasnotthebodyitselflessoftruthandessencethanthesoul？ Yes。 Whatisfilledwithmorerealexistence，andactuallyhasamorerealexistence，ismorereallyfilledthanthatwhichisfilledwithlessrealexistenceandislessreal？ Ofcourse。 Andiftherebeapleasureinbeingfilledwiththatwhichisaccordingtonature，thatwhichismorereallyfilledwithmorerealbeingwillmorereallyandtrulyenjoytruepleasure；whereasthatwhichparticipatesinlessrealbeingwillbelesstrulyandsurelysatisfied，andwillparticipateinanillusoryandlessrealpleasure？ Unquestionably。 Thosethenwhoknownotwisdomandvirtue，andarealwaysbusywithgluttonyandsensuality，godownandupagainasfarasthemean； andinthisregiontheymoveatrandomthroughoutlife，buttheyneverpassintothetrueupperworld；thithertheyneitherlook，nordotheyeverfindtheirway，neitheraretheytrulyfilledwithtruebeing，nordotheytasteofpureandabidingpleasure。Likecattle，withtheireyesalwayslookingdownandtheirheadsstoopingtotheearth，thatis，tothedining—table，theyfattenandfeedandbreed，and，intheirexcessiveloveofthesedelights，theykickandbuttatoneanotherwithhornsandhoofswhicharemadeofiron；andtheykilloneanotherbyreasonoftheirinsatiablelust。Fortheyfillthemselveswiththatwhichisnotsubstantial，andthepartofthemselveswhichtheyfillisalsounsubstantialandincontinent。 Verily，Socrates，saidGlaucon，youdescribethelifeofthemanylikeanoracle。 Theirpleasuresaremixedwithpains——howcantheybeotherwise？ Fortheyaremereshadowsandpicturesofthetrue，andarecolouredbycontrast，whichexaggeratesbothlightandshade，andsotheyimplantinthemindsoffoolsinsanedesiresofthemselves；andtheyarefoughtaboutasStesichorussaysthattheGreeksfoughtabouttheshadowofHelenatTroyinignoranceofthetruth。 Somethingofthatsortmustinevitablyhappen。 Andmustnotthelikehappenwiththespiritedorpassionateelementofthesoul？Willnotthepassionatemanwhocarrieshispassionintoaction，beinthelikecase，whetherheisenviousandambitious，orviolentandcontentious，orangryanddiscontented，ifhebeseekingtoattainhonourandvictoryandthesatisfactionofhisangerwithoutreasonorsense？ Yes，hesaid，thesamewillhappenwiththespiritedelementalso。 Thenmaywenotconfidentlyassertthattheloversofmoneyandhonour，whentheyseektheirpleasuresundertheguidanceandinthecompanyofreasonandknowledge，andpursueafterandwinthepleasureswhichwisdomshowsthem，willalsohavethetruestpleasuresinthehighestdegreewhichisattainabletothem，inasmuchastheyfollowtruth；andtheywillhavethepleasureswhicharenaturaltothem，ifthatwhichisbestforeachoneisalsomostnaturaltohim？ Yes，certainly；thebestisthemostnatural。 Andwhenthewholesoulfollowsthephilosophicalprinciple，andthereisnodivision，theseveralpartsarejust，anddoeachofthemtheirownbusiness，andenjoyseverallythebestandtruestpleasuresofwhichtheyarecapable？ Exactly。 Butwheneitherofthetwootherprinciplesprevails，itfailsinattainingitsownpleasure，andcompelstheresttopursueafterapleasurewhichisashadowonlyandwhichisnottheirown？ True。 Andthegreatertheintervalwhichseparatesthemfromphilosophyandreason，themorestrangeandillusivewillbethepleasure？ Yes。 Andisnotthatfarthestfromreasonwhichisatthegreatestdistancefromlawandorder？ Clearly。 Andthelustfulandtyrannicaldesiresare，aswesaw，atthegreatestdistance？Yes。 Andtheroyalandorderlydesiresarenearest？ Yes。 Thenthetyrantwillliveatthegreatestdistancefromtrueornaturalpleasure，andthekingattheleast？ Certainly。 Butifso，thetyrantwilllivemostunpleasantly，andthekingmostpleasantly？ Inevitably。 Wouldyouknowthemeasureoftheintervalwhichseparatesthem？ Willyoutellme？ Thereappeartobethreepleasures，onegenuineandtwospurious： nowthetransgressionofthetyrantreachesapointbeyondthespurious；hehasrunawayfromtheregionoflawandreason，andtakenuphisabodewithcertainslavepleasureswhicharehissatellites，andthemeasureofhisinferioritycanonlybeexpressedinafigure。 Howdoyoumean？ Iassume，Isaid，thatthetyrantisinthethirdplacefromtheoligarch；thedemocratwasinthemiddle？ Yes。 Andifthereistruthinwhathaspreceded，hewillbeweddedtoanimageofpleasurewhichisthriceremovedastotruthfromthepleasureoftheoligarch？ Hewill。 Andtheoligarchisthirdfromtheroyal；sincewecountasoneroyalandaristocratical？ Yes，heisthird。 Thenthetyrantisremovedfromtruepleasurebythespaceofanumberwhichisthreetimesthree？ Manifestly。 Theshadowthenoftyrannicalpleasuredeterminedbythenumberoflengthwillbeaplanefigure。 Certainly。 Andifyouraisethepowerandmaketheplaneasolid，thereisnodifficultyinseeinghowvastistheintervalbywhichthetyrantispartedfromtheking。 Yes；thearithmeticianwilleasilydothesum。 Orifsomepersonbeginsattheotherendandmeasurestheintervalbywhichthekingispartedfromthetyrantintruthofpleasure，hewillfindhim，whenthemultiplicationiscomplete，living729timesmorepleasantly，andthetyrantmorepainfullybythissameinterval。 Whatawonderfulcalculation！Andhowenormousisthedistancewhichseparatesthejustfromtheunjustinregardtopleasureandpain！ Yetatruecalculation，Isaid，andanumberwhichnearlyconcernshumanlife，ifhumanbeingsareconcernedwithdaysandnightsandmonthsandyears。 Yes，hesaid，humanlifeiscertainlyconcernedwiththem。 Thenifthegoodandjustmanbethussuperiorinpleasuretotheevilandunjust，hissuperioritywillbeinfinitelygreaterinproprietyoflifeandinbeautyandvirtue？ Immeasurablygreater。 Well，Isaid，andnowhavingarrivedatthisstageoftheargument，wemayreverttothewordswhichbroughtushither：Wasnotsomeonesayingthatinjusticewasagaintotheperfectlyunjustwhowasreputedtobejust？ Yes，thatwassaid。 Nowthen，havingdeterminedthepowerandqualityofjusticeandinjustice，letushavealittleconversationwithhim。 Whatshallwesaytohim？ Letusmakeanimageofthesoul，thathemayhavehisownwordspresentedbeforehiseyes。 Ofwhatsort？ Anidealimageofthesoul，likethecompositecreationsofancientmythology，suchastheChimeraorScyllaorCerberus，andtherearemanyothersinwhichtwoormoredifferentnaturesaresaidtogrowintoone。 Therearesaidofhavebeensuchunions。 Thendoyounowmodeltheformofamultitudinous，many—headedmonster，havingaringofheadsofallmannerofbeasts，tameandwild，whichheisabletogenerateandmetamorphoseatwill。 Yousupposemarvellouspowersintheartist；but，aslanguageismorepliablethanwaxoranysimilarsubstance，lettherebesuchamodelasyoupropose。 Supposenowthatyoumakeasecondformasofalion，andathirdofaman，thesecondsmallerthanthefirst，andthethirdsmallerthanthesecond。 That，hesaid，isaneasiertask；andIhavemadethemasyousay。 Andnowjointhem，andletthethreegrowintoone。 Thathasbeenaccomplished。 Nextfashiontheoutsideofthemintoasingleimage，asofaman，sothathewhoisnotabletolookwithin，andseesonlytheouterhull，maybelievethebeasttobeasinglehumancreature。Ihavedoneso，hesaid。 Andnow，tohimwhomaintainsthatitisprofitableforthehumancreaturetobeunjust，andunprofitabletobejust，letusreplythat，ifheberight，itisprofitableforthiscreaturetofeastthemultitudinousmonsterandstrengthenthelionandthelion—likequalities，buttostarveandweakentheman，whoisconsequentlyliabletobedraggedaboutatthemercyofeitheroftheothertwo； andheisnottoattempttofamiliarizeorharmonizethemwithoneanother——heoughtrathertosufferthemtofightandbiteanddevouroneanother。 Certainly，hesaid；thatiswhattheapproverofinjusticesays。 Tohimthesupporterofjusticemakesanswerthatheshouldeversospeakandactastogivethemanwithinhiminsomewayorotherthemostcompletemasteryovertheentirehumancreature。 Heshouldwatchoverthemany—headedmonsterlikeagoodhusbandman，fosteringandcultivatingthegentlequalities，andpreventingthewildonesfromgrowing；heshouldbemakingthelion—hearthisally，andincommoncareofthemallshouldbeunitingtheseveralpartswithoneanotherandwithhimself。 Yes，hesaid，thatisquitewhatthemaintainerofjusticesay。 Andsofromeverypointofview，whetherofpleasure，honour，oradvantage，theapproverofjusticeisrightandspeaksthetruth，andthedisapproveriswrongandfalseandignorant。 Yes，fromeverypointofview。 Come，now，andletusgentlyreasonwiththeunjust，whoisnotintentionallyinerror。’SweetSir，’wewillsaytohim，whatthinkyouofthingsesteemednobleandignoble？Isnotthenoblethatwhichsubjectsthebeasttotheman，orrathertothegodinman； andtheignoblethatwhichsubjectsthemantothebeast？’Hecanhardlyavoidsayingyes——canhenow？ Notifhehasanyregardformyopinion。 But，ifheagreesofar，wemayaskhimtoansweranotherquestion：’Thenhowwouldamanprofitifhereceivedgoldandsilverontheconditionthathewastoenslavethenoblestpartofhimtotheworst？Whocanimaginethatamanwhosoldhissonordaughterintoslaveryformoney，especiallyifhesoldthemintothehandsoffierceandevilmen，wouldbethegainer，howeverlargemightbethesumwhichhereceived？Andwillanyonesaythatheisnotamiserablecaitiffwhoremorselesslysellshisowndivinebeingtothatwhichismostgodlessanddetestable？Eriphyletookthenecklaceasthepriceofherhusband’slife，butheistakingabribeinordertocompassaworseruin。’ Yes，saidGlaucon，farworse——Iwillanswerforhim。 Hasnottheintemperatebeencensuredofold，becauseinhimthehugemultiformmonsterisallowedtobetoomuchatlarge？ Clearly。 Andmenareblamedforprideandbadtemperwhenthelionandserpentelementinthemdisproportionatelygrowsandgainsstrength？ Yes。 Andluxuryandsoftnessareblamed，becausetheyrelaxandweakenthissamecreature，andmakeacowardofhim？ Verytrue。