| Plato, Republic (English) (XML Header) [genre: prose] [word count] [lemma count] [Pl. Resp.]. | ||
| <<Pl. Resp. 485b | Pl. Resp. 487b (Greek) | >>Pl. Resp. 488e |
486cI fancy.” “What?” “Whether he is quick or slow to learn. Or do you suppose that anyone could properly love a task which he performed painfully note and with little result note from much toil?” “That could not be.” “And if he could not keep what he learned, being steeped in oblivion, note could he fail to be void of knowledge?” “How could he?” “And so, having all his labor for naught, will he not finally be constrained to loathe himself and that occupation?”
486d“Of course.” “The forgetful soul, then, we must not list in the roll of competent lovers of wisdom, but we require a good memory.” “By all means.” “But assuredly we should not say that the want of harmony and seemliness in a nature conduces to anything else than the want of measure and proportion.” “Certainly.” “And do you think that truth is akin to measure and proportion or to disproportion?” “To proportion.” “Then in addition to our other requirements we look for a mind endowed with measure and grace, whose native disposition will make it easily guided
486eto the aspect of the ideal note reality in all things.” “Assuredly.” “Tell me, then, is there any flaw in the argument? Have we not proved the qualities enumerated to be necessary and compatible note with one another for the soul that is to have a sufficient and perfect apprehension of reality?”
487a“Nay, most necessary,” he said. “Is there any fault, then, that you can find with a pursuit which a man could not properly practise unless he were by nature of good memory, quick apprehension, magnificent, note gracious, friendly and akin to truth, justice, bravery and sobriety?” “Momus note himself,” he said, “could not find fault with such a combination.” “Well, then,” said I, “when men of this sort are perfected by education and maturity of age, would you not entrust the state solely to them?”
And Adeimantus said, “No one, Socrates,
487bwould be able to controvert these statements of yours. But, all the same, those who occasionally hear you note argue thus feel in this way note: They think that owing to their inexperience in the game of question and answer note they are at every question led astray note a little bit by the argument, and when these bits are accumulated at the conclusion of the discussion mighty is their fall note and the apparent contradiction of what they at first said note; and that just as by expert draught-players note the unskilled are finally shut in and cannot make a move, 487cso they are finally blocked and have their mouths stopped by this other game of draughts played not with counters but with words; yet the truth is not affected by that outcome. note I say this with reference to the present case, for in this instance one might say that he is unable in words to contend against you at each question, but that when it comes to facts note he sees that of those who turn to philosophy, note not merely touching upon it to complete their education note 487dand dropping it while still young, but lingering too long note in the study of it, the majority become cranks, note not to say rascals, and those accounted the finest spirits among them are still rendered useless note to society by the pursuit note which you commend.” And I, on hearing this, said, “Do you think that they are mistaken in saying so?” “I don't know,” said he, 487e“but I would gladly hear your opinion.” “You may hear, then, that I think that what they say is true.” “How, then,” he replied, “can it be right to say that our cities will never be freed from their evils until the philosophers, whom we admit to be useless to them, become their rulers?” “Your question,” I said, “requires an answer expressed in a comparison or parable. note” “And you,” he said, “of course, are not accustomed to speak in comparisons!”“So,” said I, “you are making fun of me after driving me into such an impasse of argument. But, all the same, hear my comparison
488aso that you may still better see how I strain after note imagery. For so cruel is the condition of the better sort in relation to the state that there is no single thing note like it in nature. But to find a likeness for it and a defence for them one must bring together many things in such a combination as painters mix when they portray goat-stags note and similar creatures. note Conceive this sort of thing happening either on many ships or on one: Picture a shipmaster note in height and strength surpassing all others on the ship,| Plato, Republic (English) (XML Header) [genre: prose] [word count] [lemma count] [Pl. Resp.]. | ||
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