第29章

Andisnotamanreproachedforflatteryandmeannesswhosubordinatesthespiritedanimaltotheunrulymonster，and，forthesakeofmoney，ofwhichhecanneverhaveenough，habituateshiminthedaysofhisyouthtobetrampledinthemire，andfrombeingaliontobecomeamonkey？ True，hesaid。 AndwhyaremeanemploymentsandmanualartsareproachOnlybecausetheyimplyanaturalweaknessofthehigherprinciple；theindividualisunabletocontrolthecreatureswithinhim，buthastocourtthem，andhisgreatstudyishowtoflatterthem。 Suchappearstobethereason。 Andtherefore，beingdesirousofplacinghimunderarulelikethatofthebest，wesaythatheoughttobetheservantofthebest，inwhomtheDivinerules；not，asThrasymachussupposed，totheinjuryoftheservant，butbecauseeveryonehadbetterberuledbydivinewisdomdwellingwithinhim；or，ifthisbeimpossible，thenbyanexternalauthority，inorderthatwemaybeall，asfaraspossible，underthesamegovernment，friendsandequals。 True，hesaid。 Andthisisclearlyseentobetheintentionofthelaw，whichistheallyofthewholecity；andisseenalsointheauthoritywhichweexerciseoverchildren，andtherefusaltoletthembefreeuntilwehaveestablishedinthemaprincipleanalogoustotheconstitutionofastate，andbycultivationofthishigherelementhavesetupintheirheartsaguardianandrulerlikeourown，andwhenthisisdonetheymaygotheirways。 Yes，hesaid，thepurposeofthelawismanifest。 Fromwhatpointofview，then，andonwhatgroundcanwesaythatamanisprofitedbyinjusticeorintemperanceorotherbaseness，whichwillmakehimaworseman，eventhoughheacquiremoneyorpowerbyhiswickedness？ Fromnopointofviewatall。 Whatshallheprofit，ifhisinjusticebeundetectedandunpunished？ Hewhoisundetectedonlygetsworse，whereashewhoisdetectedandpunishedhasthebrutalpartofhisnaturesilencedandhumanized；thegentlerelementinhimisliberated，andhiswholesoulisperfectedandennobledbytheacquirementofjusticeandtemperanceandwisdom，morethanthebodyeverisbyreceivinggiftsofbeauty，strengthandhealth，inproportionasthesoulismorehonourablethanthebody。 Certainly，hesaid。 Tothisnoblerpurposethemanofunderstandingwilldevotetheenergiesofhislife。Andinthefirstplace，hewillhonourstudieswhichimpressthesequalitiesonhissoulanddisregardothers？ Clearly，hesaid。 Inthenextplace，hewillregulatehisbodilyhabitandtraining，andsofarwillhebefromyieldingtobrutalandirrationalpleasures，thathewillregardevenhealthasquiteasecondarymatter；hisfirstobjectwillbenotthathemaybefairorstrongorwell，unlessheislikelytherebytogaintemperance，buthewillalwaysdesiresotoattemperthebodyastopreservetheharmonyofthesoul？ Certainlyhewill，ifhehastruemusicinhim。 Andintheacquisitionofwealththereisaprincipleoforderandharmonywhichhewillalsoobserve；hewillnotallowhimselftobedazzledbythefoolishapplauseoftheworld，andheapuprichestohisowninfiniteharm？ Certainlynot，hesaid。 Hewilllookatthecitywhichiswithinhim，andtakeheedthatnodisorderoccurinit，suchasmightariseeitherfromsuperfluityorfromwant；anduponthisprinciplehewillregulatehispropertyandgainorspendaccordingtohismeans。 Verytrue。 And，forthesamereason，hewillgladlyacceptandenjoysuchhonoursashedeemslikelytomakehimabetterman；butthose，whetherprivateorpublic，whicharelikelytodisorderhislife，hewillavoid？ Then，ifthatishismotive，hewillnotbeastatesman。 BythedogofEgypt，hewill！inthecitywhich’shisownhecertainlywill，thoughinthelandofhisbirthperhapsnot，unlesshehaveadivinecall。 Iunderstand；youmeanthathewillbearulerinthecityofwhichwearethefounders，andwhichexistsinideaonly；forIdonotbelievethatthereissuchanoneanywhereonearth？ Inheaven，Ireplied，thereislaidupapatternofit，methinks，whichhewhodesiresmaybehold，andbeholding，maysethisownhouseinorder。Butwhethersuchanoneexists，oreverwillexistinfact，isnomatter；forhewillliveafterthemannerofthatcity，havingnothingtodowithanyother。 Ithinkso，hesaid。 BOOKX SOCRATES—GLAUCON OFTHEmanyexcellenceswhichIperceiveintheorderofourState，thereisnonewhichuponreflectionpleasesmebetterthantheruleaboutpoetry。 Towhatdoyourefer？ Totherejectionofimitativepoetry，whichcertainlyoughtnottobereceived；asIseefarmoreclearlynowthatthepartsofthesoulhavebeendistinguished。 Whatdoyoumean？ Speakinginconfidence，forIshouldnotliketohavemywordsrepeatedtothetragediansandtherestoftheimitativetribe——butI donotmindsayingtoyou，thatallpoeticalimitationsareruinoustotheunderstandingofthehearers，andthattheknowledgeoftheirtruenatureistheonlyantidotetothem。 Explainthepurportofyourremark。 Well，Iwilltellyou，althoughIhavealwaysfrommyearliestyouthhadanaweandloveofHomer，whichevennowmakesthewordsfalteronmylips，forheisthegreatcaptainandteacherofthewholeofthatcharmingtragiccompany；butamanisnottobereverencedmorethanthetruth，andthereforeIwillspeakout。 Verygood，hesaid。 Listentomethen，orrather，answerme。 Putyourquestion。 Canyoutellmewhatimitationis？forIreallydonotknow。 Alikelything，then，thatIshouldknow。 Whynot？forthedullereyemayoftenseeathingsoonerthanthekeener。 Verytrue，hesaid；butinyourpresence，evenifIhadanyfaintnotion，Icouldnotmustercouragetoutterit。Willyouenquireyourself？ Wellthen，shallwebegintheenquiryinourusualmanner： Wheneveranumberofindividualshaveacommonname，weassumethemtohavealsoacorrespondingideaorform。Doyouunderstandme？ Ido。 Letustakeanycommoninstance；therearebedsandtablesintheworld——plentyofthem，aretherenot？ Yes。 Butthereareonlytwoideasorformsofthem——onetheideaofabed，theotherofatable。 True。 Andthemakerofeitherofthemmakesabedorhemakesatableforouruse，inaccordancewiththeidea——thatisourwayofspeakinginthisandsimilarinstances——butnoartificermakestheideasthemselves：howcouldhe？ Impossible。 Andthereisanotherartist，——Ishouldliketoknowwhatyouwouldsayofhim。 Whoishe？ Onewhoisthemakerofalltheworksofallotherworkmen。 Whatanextraordinaryman！ Waitalittle，andtherewillbemorereasonforyoursayingso。Forthisishewhoisabletomakenotonlyvesselsofeverykind，butplantsandanimals，himselfandallotherthings——theearthandheaven，andthethingswhichareinheavenorundertheearth；hemakesthegodsalso。 Hemustbeawizardandnomistake。 Oh！youareincredulous，areyou？Doyoumeanthatthereisnosuchmakerorcreator，orthatinonesensetheremightbeamakerofallthesethingsbutinanothernot？Doyouseethatthereisawayinwhichyoucouldmakethemallyourself？ Whatway？ Aneasywayenough；orrather，therearemanywaysinwhichthefeatmightbequicklyandeasilyaccomplished，nonequickerthanthatofturningamirrorroundandround——youwouldsoonenoughmakethesunandtheheavens，andtheearthandyourself，andotheranimalsandplants，andallthe，otherthingsofwhichwewerejustnowspeaking，inthemirror。 Yes，hesaid；buttheywouldbeappearancesonly。 Verygood，Isaid，youarecomingtothepointnow。Andthepaintertoois，asIconceive，justsuchanother——acreatorofappearances，ishenot？ Ofcourse。 ButthenIsupposeyouwillsaythatwhathecreatesisuntrue。 Andyetthereisasenseinwhichthepainteralsocreatesabed？ Yes，hesaid，butnotarealbed。 Andwhatofthemakerofthebed？Wereyounotsayingthathetoomakes，nottheideawhich，accordingtoourview，istheessenceofthebed，butonlyaparticularbed？ Yes，Idid。 Thenifhedoesnotmakethatwhichexistshecannotmaketrueexistence，butonlysomesemblanceofexistence；andifanyoneweretosaythattheworkofthemakerofthebed，orofanyotherworkman，hasrealexistence，hecouldhardlybesupposedtobespeakingthetruth。 Atanyrate，hereplied，philosopherswouldsaythathewasnotspeakingthetruth。 Nowonder，then，thathisworktooisanindistinctexpressionoftruth。 Nowonder。 Supposenowthatbythelightoftheexamplesjustofferedweenquirewhothisimitatoris？ Ifyouplease。 Wellthen，herearethreebeds：oneexistinginnature，whichismadebyGod，asIthinkthatwemaysay——fornooneelsecanbethemaker？ No。 Thereisanotherwhichistheworkofthecarpenter？ Yes。 Andtheworkofthepainterisathird？ Yes。 Beds，then，areofthreekinds，andtherearethreeartistswhosuperintendthem：God，themakerofthebed，andthepainter？ Yes，therearethreeofthem。 God，whetherfromchoiceorfromnecessity，madeonebedinnatureandoneonly；twoormoresuchidealbedsneithereverhavebeennoreverwillbemadebyGod。 Whyisthat？ BecauseevenifHehadmadebuttwo，athirdwouldstillappearbehindthemwhichbothofthemwouldhavefortheiridea，andthatwouldbetheidealbedandthetwoothers。 Verytrue，hesaid。 Godknewthis，andHedesiredtobetherealmakerofarealbed，notaparticularmakerofaparticularbed，andthereforeHecreatedabedwhichisessentiallyandbynatureoneonly。 Sowebelieve。 Shallwe，then，speakofHimasthenaturalauthorormakerofthebed？ Yes，hereplied；inasmuchasbythenaturalprocessofcreationHeistheauthorofthisandofallotherthings。 Andwhatshallwesayofthecarpenter——isnothealsothemakerofthebed？ Yes。 Butwouldyoucallthepainteracreatorandmaker？ Certainlynot。 Yetifheisnotthemaker，whatisheinrelationtothebed？ Ithink，hesaid，thatwemayfairlydesignatehimastheimitatorofthatwhichtheothersmake。 Good，Isaid；thenyoucallhimwhoisthirdinthedescentfromnatureanimitator？ Certainly，hesaid。 Andthetragicpoetisanimitator，andtherefore，likeallotherimitators，heisthriceremovedfromthekingandfromthetruth？ Thatappearstobeso。 Thenabouttheimitatorweareagreed。Andwhataboutthepainter？ ——Iwouldliketoknowwhetherhemaybethoughttoimitatethatwhichoriginallyexistsinnature，oronlythecreationsofartists？ Thelatter。 Astheyareorastheyappear？Youhavestilltodeterminethis。 Whatdoyoumean？ Imean，thatyoumaylookatabedfromdifferentpointsofview，obliquelyordirectlyorfromanyotherpointofview，andthebedwillappeardifferent，butthereisnodifferenceinreality。Andthesameofallthings。 Yes，hesaid，thedifferenceisonlyapparent。 Nowletmeaskyouanotherquestion：Whichistheartofpaintingdesignedtobe——animitationofthingsastheyare，orastheyappear——ofappearanceorofreality？ Ofappearance。 Thentheimitator，Isaid，isalongwayoffthetruth，andcandoallthingsbecausehelightlytouchesonasmallpartofthem，andthatpartanimage。Forexample：Apainterwillpaintacobbler，carpenter，oranyotherartist，thoughheknowsnothingoftheirarts； and，ifheisagoodartist，hemaydeceivechildrenorsimplepersons，whenheshowsthemhispictureofacarpenterfromadistance，andtheywillfancythattheyarelookingatarealcarpenter。 Certainly。 Andwheneveranyoneinformsusthathehasfoundamanknowsallthearts，andallthingselsethatanybodyknows，andeverysinglethingwithahigherdegreeofaccuracythananyotherman——whoevertellsusthis，Ithinkthatwecanonlyimaginetobeasimplecreaturewhoislikelytohavebeendeceivedbysomewizardoractorwhomhemet，andwhomhethoughtall—knowing，becausehehimselfwasunabletoanalysethenatureofknowledgeandignoranceandimitation。 Mosttrue。 Andso，whenwehearpersonssayingthatthetragedians，andHomer，whoisattheirhead，knowalltheartsandallthingshuman，virtueaswellasvice，anddivinethingstoo，forthatthegoodpoetcannotcomposewellunlessheknowshissubject，andthathewhohasnotthisknowledgecanneverbeapoet，weoughttoconsiderwhetherherealsotheremaynotbeasimilarillusion。Perhapstheymayhavecomeacrossimitatorsandbeendeceivedbythem；theymaynothaverememberedwhentheysawtheirworksthatthesewerebutimitationsthriceremovedfromthetruth，andcouldeasilybemadewithoutanyknowledgeofthetruth，becausetheyareappearancesonlyandnotrealities？Or，afterall，theymaybeintheright，andpoetsdoreallyknowthethingsaboutwhichtheyseemtothemanytospeaksowell？ Thequestion，hesaid，shouldbyallmeansbeconsidered。 Nowdoyousupposethatifapersonwereabletomaketheoriginalaswellastheimage，hewouldseriouslydevotehimselftotheimage—makingbranch？Wouldheallowimitationtobetherulingprincipleofhislife，asifhehadnothinghigherinhim？ Ishouldsaynot。 Therealartist，whoknewwhathewasimitating，wouldbeinterestedinrealitiesandnotinimitations；andwoulddesiretoleaveasmemorialsofhimselfworksmanyandfair；and，insteadofbeingtheauthorofencomiums，hewouldprefertobethethemeofthem。 Yes，hesaid，thatwouldbetohimasourceofmuchgreaterhonourandprofit。 Then，Isaid，wemustputaquestiontoHomer；notaboutmedicine，oranyoftheartstowhichhispoemsonlyincidentallyrefer：wearenotgoingtoaskhim，oranyotherpoet，whetherhehascuredpatientslikeAsclepius，orleftbehindhimaschoolofmedicinesuchastheAsclepiadswere，orwhetherheonlytalksaboutmedicineandotherartsatsecondhand；butwehavearighttoknowrespectingmilitarytactics，politics，education，whicharethechiefestandnoblestsubjectsofhispoems，andwemayfairlyaskhimaboutthem。’FriendHomer，’thenwesaytohim，’ifyouareonlyinthesecondremovefromtruthinwhatyousayofvirtue，andnotinthethird——notanimagemakerorimitator——andifyouareabletodiscernwhatpursuitsmakemenbetterorworseinprivateorpubliclife，telluswhatStatewaseverbettergovernedbyyourhelp？ThegoodorderofLacedaemonisduetoLycurgus，andmanyothercitiesgreatandsmallhavebeensimilarlybenefitedbyothers；butwhosaysthatyouhavebeenagoodlegislatortothemandhavedonethemanygood？ItalyandSicilyboastofCharondas，andthereisSolonwhoisrenownedamongus；butwhatcityhasanythingtosayaboutyou？’Isthereanycitywhichhemightname？ Ithinknot，saidGlaucon；noteventheHomeridsthemselvespretendthathewasalegislator。 Well，butisthereanywaronrecordwhichwascarriedonsuccessfullybyhim，oraidedbyhiscounsels，whenhewasalive？ Thereisnot。 Oristhereanyinventionofhis，applicabletotheartsortohumanlife，suchasThalestheMilesianorAnacharsistheScythian，andotheringeniousmenhaveconceived，whichisattributedtohim？ Thereisabsolutelynothingofthekind。 But，ifHomerneverdidanypublicservice，washeprivatelyaguideorteacherofany？Hadheinhislifetimefriendswholovedtoassociatewithhim，andwhohandeddowntoposterityanHomericwayoflife，suchaswasestablishedbyPythagoraswhowassogreatlybelovedforhiswisdom，andwhosefollowersaretothisdayquitecelebratedfortheorderwhichwasnamedafterhim？ Nothingofthekindisrecordedofhim。Forsurely，Socrates，Creophylus，thecompanionofHomer，thatchildofflesh，whosenamealwaysmakesuslaugh，mightbemorejustlyridiculedforhisstupidity，if，asissaid，Homerwasgreatlyneglectedbyhimandothersinhisowndaywhenhewasalive？ Yes，Ireplied，thatisthetradition。Butcanyouimagine，Glaucon，thatifHomerhadreallybeenabletoeducateandimprovemankind——ifhehadpossessedknowledgeandnotbeenamereimitator——canyouimagine，Isay，thathewouldnothavehadmanyfollowers，andbeenhonouredandlovedbythem？ProtagorasofAbdera，andProdicusofCeos，andahostofothers，haveonlytowhispertotheircontemporaries：’YouwillneverbeabletomanageeitheryourownhouseoryourownStateuntilyouappointustobeyourministersofeducation’——andthisingeniousdeviceoftheirshassuchaneffectinmakingthemlovethemthattheircompanionsallbutcarrythemaboutontheirshoulders。AndisitconceivablethatthecontemporariesofHomer，oragainofHesiod，wouldhaveallowedeitherofthemtogoaboutasrhapsodists，iftheyhadreallybeenabletomakemankindvirtuous？Wouldtheynothavebeenasunwillingtopartwiththemaswithgold，andhavecompelledthemtostayathomewiththem？Or，ifthemasterwouldnotstay，thenthediscipleswouldhavefollowedhimabouteverywhere，untiltheyhadgoteducationenough？ Yes，Socrates，that，Ithink，isquitetrue。 Thenmustwenotinferthatallthesepoeticalindividuals，beginningwithHomer，areonlyimitators；theycopyimagesofvirtueandthelike，butthetruththeyneverreach？Thepoetislikeapainterwho，aswehavealreadyobserved，willmakealikenessofacobblerthoughheunderstandsnothingofcobbling；andhispictureisgoodenoughforthosewhoknownomorethanhedoes，andjudgeonlybycoloursandfigures。 Quiteso。 Inlikemannerthepoetwithhiswordsandphrasesmaybesaidtolayonthecoloursoftheseveralarts，himselfunderstandingtheirnatureonlyenoughtoimitatethem；andotherpeople，whoareasignorantasheis，andjudgeonlyfromhiswords，imaginethatifhespeaksofcobbling，orofmilitarytactics，orofanythingelse，inmetreandharmonyandrhythm，hespeaksverywell——suchisthesweetinfluencewhichmelodyandrhythmbynaturehave。AndIthinkthatyoumusthaveobservedagainandagainwhatapoorappearancethetalesofpoetsmakewhenstrippedofthecolourswhichmusicputsuponthem，andrecitedinsimpleprose。 Yes，hesaid。 Theyarelikefaceswhichwereneverreallybeautiful，butonlyblooming；andnowthebloomofyouthhaspassedawayfromthem？ Exactly。 Hereisanotherpoint：Theimitatorormakeroftheimageknowsnothingoftrueexistence；heknowsappearancesonly。AmInotright？ Yes。 Thenletushaveaclearunderstanding，andnotbesatisfiedwithhalfanexplanation。 Proceed。 Ofthepainterwesaythathewillpaintreins，andhewillpaintabit？ Yes。 Andtheworkerinleatherandbrasswillmakethem？ Certainly。 Butdoesthepainterknowtherightformofthebitandreins？ Nay，hardlyeventheworkersinbrassandleatherwhomakethem； onlythehorsemanwhoknowshowtousethem——heknowstheirrightform。 Mosttrue。 Andmaywenotsaythesameofallthings？ What？ Thattherearethreeartswhichareconcernedwithallthings：onewhichuses，anotherwhichmakes，athirdwhichimitatesthem？ Yes。 Andtheexcellenceorbeautyortruthofeverystructure，animateorinanimate，andofeveryactionofman，isrelativetotheuseforwhichnatureortheartisthasintendedthem。 True。 Thentheuserofthemmusthavethegreatestexperienceofthem，andhemustindicatetothemakerthegoodorbadqualitieswhichdevelopthemselvesinuse；forexample，theflute—playerwilltelltheflute—makerwhichofhisflutesissatisfactorytotheperformer；hewilltellhimhowheoughttomakethem，andtheotherwillattendtohisinstructions？ Ofcourse。 Theoneknowsandthereforespeakswithauthorityaboutthegoodnessandbadnessofflutes，whiletheother，confidinginhim，willdowhatheistoldbyhim？ True。 Theinstrumentisthesame，butabouttheexcellenceorbadnessofitthemakerwillonlyattaintoacorrectbelief；andthishewillgainfromhimwhoknows，bytalkingtohimandbeingcompelledtohearwhathehastosay，whereastheuserwillhaveknowledge？ True。 Butwilltheimitatorhaveeither？Willheknowfromusewhetherornohisdrawingiscorrectorbeautiful？Orwillhehaverightopinionfrombeingcompelledtoassociatewithanotherwhoknowsandgiveshiminstructionsaboutwhatheshoulddraw？ Neither。 Thenhewillnomorehavetrueopinionthanhewillhaveknowledgeaboutthegoodnessorbadnessofhisimitations？ Isupposenot。 Theimitativeartistwillbeinabrilliantstateofintelligenceabouthisowncreations？