WhenThrasymachushasbeensilenced,thetwoprincipalrespondents,GlauconandAdeimantus,appearonthescene:here,asinGreektragedy,threeactorsareintroduced。AtfirstsightthetwosonsofAristonmayseemtowearafamilylikeness,likethetwofriendsSimmiasandCebesinthePhaedo。Butonanearerexaminationofthemthesimilarityvanishes,andtheyareseentobedistinctcharacters。Glauconistheimpetuousyouthwhocan"justneverhaveenoughoffechting"(cf。thecharacterofhiminXen。Mem。iii。6);
themanofpleasurewhoisacquaintedwiththemysteriesoflove;
the"juvenisquigaudetcanibus,"andwhoimprovesthebreedofanimals;theloverofartandmusicwhohasalltheexperiencesofyouthfullife。Heisfullofquicknessandpenetration,piercingeasilybelowtheclumsyplatitudesofThrasymachustotherealdifficulty;heturnsouttothelighttheseamysideofhumanlife,andyetdoesnotlosefaithinthejustandtrue。ItisGlauconwhoseizeswhatmaybetermedtheludicrousrelationofthephilosophertotheworld,towhomastateofsimplicityis"acityofpigs,"whoisalwayspreparedwithajestwhentheargumentoffershimanopportunity,andwhoiseverreadytosecondthehumorofSocratesandtoappreciatetheridiculous,whetherintheconnoisseursofmusic,orintheloversoftheatricals,orinthefantasticbehaviorofthecitizensofdemocracy。HisweaknessesareseveraltimesalludedtobySocrates,who,however,willnotallowhimtobeattackedbyhisbrotherAdeimantus。Heisasoldier,and,likeAdeimantus,hasbeendistinguishedatthebattleofMegara。
ThecharacterofAdeimantusisdeeperandgraver,andtheprofounderobjectionsarecommonlyputintohismouth。Glauconismoredemonstrative,andgenerallyopensthegame。Adeimantuspursuestheargumentfurther。Glauconhasmoreofthelivelinessandquicksympathyofyouth;Adeimantushasthematurerjudgmentofagrown—upmanoftheworld。Inthesecondbook,whenGlauconinsiststhatjusticeandinjusticeshallbeconsideredwithoutregardtotheirconsequences,Adeimantusremarksthattheyareregardedbymankindingeneralonlyforthesakeoftheirconsequences;andinasimilarveinofreflectionheurgesatthebeginningofthefourthbookthatSocratesfallsinmakinghiscitizenshappy,andisansweredthathappinessisnotthefirstbutthesecondthing,notthedirectaimbuttheindirectconsequenceofthegoodgovernmentofaState。Inthediscussionaboutreligionandmythology,Adeimantusistherespondent,butGlauconbreaksinwithaslightjest,andcarriesontheconversationinalightertoneaboutmusicandgymnastictotheendofthebook。ItisAdeimantusagainwhovolunteersthecriticismofcommonsenseontheSocraticmethodofargument,andwhorefusestoletSocratespasslightlyoverthequestionofwomenandchildren。
ItisAdeimantuswhoistherespondentinthemoreargumentative,asGlauconinthelighterandmoreimaginativeportionsoftheDialogue。Forexample,throughoutthegreaterpartofthesixthbook,thecausesofthecorruptionofphilosophyandtheconceptionoftheideaofgoodarediscussedwithAdeimantus。ThenGlauconresumeshisplaceofprincipalrespondent;buthehasadifficultyinapprehendingthehighereducationofSocrates,andmakessomefalsehitsinthecourseofthediscussion。OncemoreAdeimantusreturnswiththeallusiontohisbrotherGlauconwhomhecomparestothecontentiousState;inthenextbookheisagainsuperseded,andGlauconcontinuestotheend。
ThusinasuccessionofcharactersPlatorepresentsthesuccessivestagesofmorality,beginningwiththeAtheniangentlemanoftheoldentime,whoisfollowedbythepracticalmanofthatdayregulatinghislifebyproverbsandsaws;tohimsucceedsthewildgeneralizationoftheSophists,andlastlycometheyoungdisciplesofthegreatteacher,whoknowthesophisticalargumentsbutwillnotbeconvincedbythem,anddesiretogodeeperintothenatureofthings。Thesetoo,likeCephalus,Polemarchus,Thrasymachus,areclearlydistinguishedfromoneanother。NeitherintheRepublic,norinanyotherDialogueofPlato,isasinglecharacterrepeated。
ThedelineationofSocratesintheRepublicisnotwhollyconsistent。InthefirstbookwehavemoreoftherealSocrates,suchasheisdepictedintheMemorabiliaofXenophon,intheearliestDialoguesofPlato,andintheApology。Heisironical,provoking,questioning,theoldenemyoftheSophists,readytoputonthemaskofSilenusaswellastoargueseriously。ButinthesixthbookhisenmitytowardstheSophistsabates;heacknowledgesthattheyaretherepresentativesratherthanthecorruptersoftheworld。Healsobecomesmoredogmaticandconstructive,passingbeyondtherangeeitherofthepoliticalorthespeculativeideasoftherealSocrates。
InonepassagePlatohimselfseemstointimatethatthetimehadnowcomeforSocrates,whohadpassedhiswholelifeinphilosophy,togivehisownopinionandnottobealwaysrepeatingthenotionsofothermen。ThereisnoevidencethateithertheideaofgoodortheconceptionofaperfectStatewerecomprehendedintheSocraticteaching,thoughhecertainlydweltonthenatureoftheuniversalandoffinalcauses(cp。Xen。Mem。i。4;Phaedo97);andadeepthinkerlikehiminhisthirtyorfortyyearsofpublicteaching,couldhardlyhavefalledtotouchonthenatureoffamilyrelations,forwhichthereisalsosomepositiveevidenceintheMemorabilia(Mem。i。2,51
foll。)TheSocraticmethodisnominallyretained;andeveryinferenceiseitherputintothemouthoftherespondentorrepresentedasthecommondiscoveryofhimandSocrates。Butanyonecanseethatthisisamereform,ofwhichtheaffectationgrowswearisomeastheworkadvances。Themethodofinquiryhaspassedintoamethodofteachinginwhichbythehelpofinterlocutorsthesamethesisislookedatfromvariouspointsofview。
ThenatureoftheprocessistrulycharacterizedbyGlaucon,whenhedescribeshimselfasacompanionwhoisnotgoodformuchinaninvestigation,butcanseewhatheisshown,andmay,perhaps,givetheanswertoaquestionmorefluentlythananother。
Neithercanwebeabsolutelycertainthat,Socrateshimselftaughttheimmortalityofthesoul,whichisunknowntohisdiscipleGlauconintheRepublic;noristhereanyreasontosupposethatheusedmythsorrevelationsofanotherworldasavehicleofinstruction,orthathewouldhavebanishedpoetryorhavedenouncedtheGreekmythology。Hisfavoriteoathisretained,andaslightmentionismadeofthedaemonium,orinternalsign,whichisalludedtobySocratesasaphenomenonpeculiartohimself。ArealelementofSocraticteaching,whichismoreprominentintheRepublicthaninanyoftheotherDialoguesofPlato,istheuseofexampleandillustration(’taphorhtikaautoprhospherhontez’):"Letusapplythetestofcommoninstances。""You,"saysAdeimantus,ironically,inthesixthbook,"aresounaccustomedtospeakinimages。"Andthisuseofexamplesorimages,thoughtrulySocraticinorigin,isenlargedbythegeniusofPlatointotheformofanallegoryorparable,whichembodiesintheconcretewhathasbeenalreadydescribed,orisabouttobedescribed,intheabstract。ThusthefigureofthecaveinBookVIIisarecapitulationofthedivisionsofknowledgeinBookVI。
ThecompositeanimalinBookIXisanallegoryofthepartsofthesoul。ThenoblecaptainandtheshipandthetruepilotinBookVIareafigureoftherelationofthepeopletothephilosophersintheStatewhichhasbeendescribed。Otherfigures,suchasthedoginthesecond,third,andfourthbooks,orthemarriageoftheportionlessmaideninthesixthbook,orthedronesandwaspsintheeighthandninthbooks,alsoformlinksofconnectioninlongpassages,orareusedtorecallpreviousdiscussions。
Platoismosttruetothecharacterofhismasterwhenhedescribeshimas"notofthisworld。"AndwiththisrepresentationofhimtheidealStateandtheotherparadoxesoftheRepublicarequiteinaccordance,thoughtheycannotbeshowntohavebeenspeculationsofSocrates。Tohim,astoothergreatteachersbothphilosophicalandreligious,whentheylookedupward,theworldseemedtobetheembodimentoferrorandevil。Thecommonsenseofmankindhasrevoltedagainstthisview,orhasonlypartiallyadmittedit。AndeveninSocrateshimselfthesternerjudgmentofthemultitudeattimespassesintoasortofironicalpityorlove。Meningeneralareincapableofphilosophy,andarethereforeatenmitywiththephilosopher;buttheirmisunderstandingofhimisunavoidable:fortheyhaveneverseenhimashetrulyisinhisownimage;theyareonlyacquaintedwithartificialsystemspossessingnonativeforceoftruth——wordswhichadmitofmanyapplications。Theirleadershavenothingtomeasurewith,andarethereforeignorantoftheirownstature。Buttheyaretobepitiedorlaughedat,nottobequarrelledwith;theymeanwellwiththeirnostrums,iftheycouldonlylearnthattheyarecuttingoffaHydra’shead。ThismoderationtowardsthosewhoareinerrorisoneofthemostcharacteristicfeaturesofSocratesintheRepublic。InallthedifferentrepresentationsofSocrates,whetherofXenophonorPlato,andthedifferencesoftheearlierorlaterDialogues,healwaysretainsthecharacteroftheunweariedanddisinterestedseekeraftertruth,withoutwhichhewouldhaveceasedtobeSocrates。
LeavingthecharacterswemaynowanalyzethecontentsoftheRepublic,andthenproceedtoconsider(1)ThegeneralaspectsofthisHellenicidealoftheState,(2)ThemodernlightsinwhichthethoughtsofPlatomayberead。
BOOKI
SOCRATES—GLAUCON
IWENTdownyesterdaytothePiraeuswithGlauconthesonofAriston,thatImightofferupmyprayerstothegoddess;andalsobecauseIwantedtoseeinwhatmannertheywouldcelebratethefestival,whichwasanewthing。Iwasdelightedwiththeprocessionoftheinhabitants;butthatoftheThracianswasequally,ifnotmore,beautiful。Whenwehadfinishedourprayersandviewedthespectacle,weturnedinthedirectionofthecity;andatthatinstantPolemarchusthesonofCephaluschancedtocatchsightofusfromadistanceaswewerestartingonourwayhome,andtoldhisservanttorunandbiduswaitforhim。Theservanttookholdofmebythecloakbehind,andsaid:Polemarchusdesiresyoutowait。
Iturnedround,andaskedhimwherehismasterwas。
Thereheis,saidtheyouth,comingafteryou,ifyouwillonlywait。
Certainlywewill,saidGlaucon;andinafewminutesPolemarchusappeared,andwithhimAdeimantus,Glaucon’sbrother,NiceratusthesonofNicias,andseveralotherswhohadbeenattheprocession。
SOCRATES—POLEMARCHUS—GLAUCON—ADEIMANTUS
Polemarchussaidtome:Iperceive,Socrates,thatyouandourcompanionarealreadyonyourwaytothecity。
Youarenotfarwrong,Isaid。
Butdoyousee,herejoined,howmanyweare?
Ofcourse。
Andareyoustrongerthanallthese?forifnot,youwillhavetoremainwhereyouare。
Maytherenotbethealternative,Isaid,thatwemaypersuadeyoutoletusgo?
Butcanyoupersuadeus,ifwerefusetolistentoyou?hesaid。
Certainlynot,repliedGlaucon。
Thenwearenotgoingtolisten;ofthatyoumaybeassured。
Adeimantusadded:Hasnoonetoldyouofthetorch—raceonhorsebackinhonourofthegoddesswhichwilltakeplaceintheevening?
Withhorses!Ireplied:Thatisanovelty。Willhorsemencarrytorchesandpassthemonetoanotherduringtherace?
Yes,saidPolemarchus,andnotonlyso,butafestivalwillhecelebratedatnight,whichyoucertainlyoughttosee。Letusrisesoonaftersupperandseethisfestival;therewillbeagatheringofyoungmen,andwewillhaveagoodtalk。Staythen,anddonotbeperverse。
Glauconsaid:Isuppose,sinceyouinsist,thatwemust。
Verygood,Ireplied。
GLAUCON—CEPHALUS—SOCRATES
AccordinglywewentwithPolemarchustohishouse;andtherewefoundhisbrothersLysiasandEuthydemus,andwiththemThrasymachustheChalcedonian,CharmantidesthePaeanian,andCleitophonthesonofAristonymus。TheretoowasCephalusthefatherofPolemarchus,whomIhadnotseenforalongtime,andIthoughthimverymuchaged。Hewasseatedonacushionedchair,andhadagarlandonhishead,forhehadbeensacrificinginthecourt;andthereweresomeotherchairsintheroomarrangedinasemicircle,uponwhichwesatdownbyhim。Hesalutedmeeagerly,andthenhesaid:——
Youdon’tcometoseeme,Socrates,asoftenasyouought:IfIwerestillabletogoandseeyouIwouldnotaskyoutocometome。ButatmyageIcanhardlygettothecity,andthereforeyoushouldcomeoftenertothePiraeus。Forletmetellyou,thatthemorethepleasuresofthebodyfadeaway,thegreatertomeisthepleasureandcharmofconversation。Donotthendenymyrequest,butmakeourhouseyourresortandkeepcompanywiththeseyoungmen;weareoldfriends,andyouwillbequiteathomewithus。
Ireplied:ThereisnothingwhichformypartIlikebetter,Cephalus,thanconversingwithagedmen;forIregardthemastravellerswhohavegoneajourneywhichItoomayhavetogo,andofwhomIoughttoenquire,whetherthewayissmoothandeasy,orruggedanddifficult。AndthisisaquestionwhichIshouldliketoaskofyouwhohavearrivedatthattimewhichthepoetscallthe’thresholdofoldage’——Islifehardertowardstheend,orwhatreportdoyougiveofit?
Iwilltellyou,Socrates,hesaid,whatmyownfeelingis。Menofmyageflocktogether;wearebirdsofafeather,astheoldproverbsays;andatourmeetingsthetaleofmyacquaintancecommonlyis——Icannoteat,Icannotdrink;thepleasuresofyouthandlovearefledaway:therewasagoodtimeonce,butnowthatisgone,andlifeisnolongerlife。Somecomplainoftheslightswhichareputuponthembyrelations,andtheywilltellyousadlyofhowmanyevilstheiroldageisthecause。Buttome,Socrates,thesecomplainersseemtoblamethatwhichisnotreallyinfault。Forifoldagewerethecause,Itoobeingold,andeveryotheroldman,wouldhavefeltastheydo。Butthisisnotmyownexperience,northatofotherswhomIhaveknown。HowwellIremembertheagedpoetSophocles,wheninanswertothequestion,Howdoeslovesuitwithage,Sophocles,——areyoustillthemanyouwere?Peace,hereplied;mostgladlyhaveIescapedthethingofwhichyouspeak;IfeelasifIhadescapedfromamadandfuriousmaster。Hiswordshaveoftenoccurredtomymindsince,andtheyseemasgoodtomenowasatthetimewhenheutteredthem。Forcertainlyoldagehasagreatsenseofcalmandfreedom;whenthepassionsrelaxtheirhold,then,asSophoclessays,wearefreedfromthegraspnotofonemadmasteronly,butofmany。Thetruthis,Socrates,thattheseregrets,andalsothecomplaintsaboutrelations,aretobeattributedtothesamecause,whichisnotoldage,butmen’scharactersandtempers;
forhewhoisofacalmandhappynaturewillhardlyfeelthepressureofage,buttohimwhoisofanoppositedispositionyouthandageareequallyaburden。
Ilistenedinadmiration,andwantingtodrawhimout,thathemightgoon——Yes,Cephalus,Isaid:butIrathersuspectthatpeopleingeneralarenotconvincedbyyouwhenyouspeakthus;theythinkthatoldagesitslightlyuponyou,notbecauseofyourhappydisposition,butbecauseyouarerich,andwealthiswellknowntobeagreatcomforter。
Youareright,hereplied;theyarenotconvinced:andthereissomethinginwhattheysay;not,however,somuchastheyimagine。I
mightanswerthemasThemistoclesansweredtheSeriphianwhowasabusinghimandsayingthathewasfamous,notforhisownmeritsbutbecausehewasanAthenian:’IfyouhadbeenanativeofmycountryorIofyours,neitherofuswouldhavebeenfamous。’Andtothosewhoarenotrichandareimpatientofoldage,thesamereplymaybemade;fortothegoodpoormanoldagecannotbealightburden,norcanabadrichmaneverhavepeacewithhimself。
MayIask,Cephalus,whetheryourfortunewasforthemostpartinheritedoracquiredbyyou?
Acquired!Socrates;doyouwanttoknowhowmuchIacquired?IntheartofmakingmoneyIhavebeenmidwaybetweenmyfatherandgrandfather:formygrandfather,whosenameIbear,doubledandtrebledthevalueofhispatrimony,thatwhichheinheritedbeingmuchwhatIpossessnow;butmyfatherLysaniasreducedthepropertybelowwhatitisatpresent:andIshallbesatisfiedifIleavetothesemysonsnotlessbutalittlemorethanIreceived。
ThatwaswhyIaskedyouthequestion,Ireplied,becauseIseethatyouareindifferentaboutmoney,whichisacharacteristicratherofthosewhohaveinheritedtheirfortunesthanofthosewhohaveacquiredthem;themakersoffortuneshaveasecondloveofmoneyasacreationoftheirown,resemblingtheaffectionofauthorsfortheirownpoems,orofparentsfortheirchildren,besidesthatnaturalloveofitforthesakeofuseandprofitwhichiscommontothemandallmen。Andhencetheyareverybadcompany,fortheycantalkaboutnothingbutthepraisesofwealth。Thatistrue,hesaid。
Yes,thatisverytrue,butmayIaskanotherquestion?Whatdoyouconsidertobethegreatestblessingwhichyouhavereapedfromyourwealth?
One,hesaid,ofwhichIcouldnotexpecteasilytoconvinceothers。
Forletmetellyou,Socrates,thatwhenamanthinkshimselftobeneardeath,fearsandcaresenterintohismindwhichheneverhadbefore;thetalesofaworldbelowandthepunishmentwhichisexactedthereofdeedsdoneherewereoncealaughingmattertohim,butnowheistormentedwiththethoughtthattheymaybetrue:eitherfromtheweaknessofage,orbecauseheisnowdrawingnearertothatotherplace,hehasaclearerviewofthesethings;suspicionsandalarmscrowdthicklyuponhim,andhebeginstoreflectandconsiderwhatwrongshehasdonetoothers。Andwhenhefindsthatthesumofhistransgressionsisgreathewillmanyatimelikeachildstartupinhissleepforfear,andheisfilledwithdarkforebodings。Buttohimwhoisconsciousofnosin,sweethope,asPindarcharminglysays,isthekindnurseofhisage:
Hope,hesays,cherishesthesoulofhimwholivesinjusticeandholinessandisthenurseofhisageandthecompanionofhisjourney;
——hopewhichismightiesttoswaytherestlesssoulofman。
Howadmirablearehiswords!Andthegreatblessingofriches,I
donotsaytoeveryman,buttoagoodman,is,thathehashadnooccasiontodeceiveortodefraudothers,eitherintentionallyorunintentionally;andwhenhedepartstotheworldbelowheisnotinanyapprehensionaboutofferingsduetothegodsordebtswhichheowestomen。Nowtothispeaceofmindthepossessionofwealthgreatlycontributes;andthereforeIsay,that,settingonethingagainstanother,ofthemanyadvantageswhichwealthhastogive,toamanofsensethisisinmyopinionthegreatest。
Wellsaid,Cephalus,Ireplied;butasconcerningjustice,whatisit?——tospeakthetruthandtopayyourdebts——nomorethanthis?
Andeventothisaretherenotexceptions?Supposethatafriendwheninhisrightmindhasdepositedarmswithmeandheasksforthemwhenheisnotinhisrightmind,oughtItogivethembacktohim?NoonewouldsaythatIoughtorthatIshouldberightindoingso,anymorethantheywouldsaythatIoughtalwaystospeakthetruthtoonewhoisinhiscondition。
Youarequiteright,hereplied。
Butthen,Isaid,speakingthetruthandpayingyourdebtsisnotacorrectdefinitionofjustice。
CEPHALUS—SOCRATES—POLEMARCHUS
Quitecorrect,Socrates,ifSimonidesistobebelieved,saidPolemarchusinterposing。
Ifear,saidCephalus,thatImustgonow,forIhavetolookafterthesacrifices,andIhandovertheargumenttoPolemarchusandthecompany。
IsnotPolemarchusyourheir?Isaid。
Tobesure,heanswered,andwentawaylaughingtothesacrifices。
SOCRATES—POLEMARCHUS
Tellmethen,Othouheiroftheargument,whatdidSimonidessay,andaccordingtoyoutrulysay,aboutjustice?
Hesaidthattherepaymentofadebtisjust,andinsayingsoheappearstometoberight。
Ishouldbesorrytodoubtthewordofsuchawiseandinspiredman,buthismeaning,thoughprobablycleartoyou,isthereverseofcleartome。Forhecertainlydoesnotmean,aswewerenowsayingthatI
oughttoreturnareturnadepositofarmsorofanythingelsetoonewhoasksforitwhenheisnotinhisrightsenses;andyetadepositcannotbedeniedtobeadebt。
True。
ThenwhenthepersonwhoasksmeisnotinhisrightmindIambynomeanstomakethereturn?
Certainlynot。
WhenSimonidessaidthattherepaymentofadebtwasjustice,hedidnotmeantoincludethatcase?
Certainlynot;forhethinksthatafriendoughtalwaystodogoodtoafriendandneverevil。
Youmeanthatthereturnofadepositofgoldwhichistotheinjuryofthereceiver,ifthetwopartiesarefriends,isnottherepaymentofadebt,——thatiswhatyouwouldimaginehimtosay?
Yes。
Andareenemiesalsotoreceivewhatweowetothem?
Tobesure,hesaid,theyaretoreceivewhatweowethem,andanenemy,asItakeit,owestoanenemythatwhichisdueorpropertohim——thatistosay,evil。
Simonides,then,afterthemannerofpoets,wouldseemtohavespokendarklyofthenatureofjustice;forhereallymeanttosaythatjusticeisthegivingtoeachmanwhatispropertohim,andthishetermedadebt。
Thatmusthavebeenhismeaning,hesaid。
Byheaven!Ireplied;andifweaskedhimwhatdueorproperthingisgivenbymedicine,andtowhom,whatanswerdoyouthinkthathewouldmaketous?
Hewouldsurelyreplythatmedicinegivesdrugsandmeatanddrinktohumanbodies。
Andwhatdueorproperthingisgivenbycookery,andtowhat?
Seasoningtofood。
Andwhatisthatwhichjusticegives,andtowhom?
If,Socrates,wearetobeguidedatallbytheanalogyoftheprecedinginstances,thenjusticeistheartwhichgivesgoodtofriendsandeviltoenemies。
Thatishismeaningthen?
Ithinkso。
Andwhoisbestabletodogoodtohisfriendsandeviltohisenemiesintimeofsickness?
Thephysician。
Orwhentheyareonavoyage,amidtheperilsofthesea?
Thepilot。
Andinwhatsortofactionsorwithaviewtowhatresultisthejustmanmostabletodoharmtohisenemyandgoodtohisfriends?
Ingoingtowaragainsttheoneandinmakingallianceswiththeother。
Butwhenamaniswell,mydearPolemarchus,thereisnoneedofaphysician?
No。
Andhewhoisnotonavoyagehasnoneedofapilot?
No。
Thenintimeofpeacejusticewillbeofnouse?
Iamveryfarfromthinkingso。
Youthinkthatjusticemaybeofuseinpeaceaswellasinwar?
Yes。
Likehusbandryfortheacquisitionofcorn?
Yes。
Orlikeshoemakingfortheacquisitionofshoes,——thatiswhatyoumean?
Yes。
Andwhatsimilaruseorpowerofacquisitionhasjusticeintimeofpeace?
Incontracts,Socrates,justiceisofuse。
Andbycontractsyoumeanpartnerships?
Exactly。
Butisthejustmanortheskilfulplayeramoreusefulandbetterpartneratagameofdraughts?
Theskilfulplayer。
Andinthelayingofbricksandstonesisthejustmanamoreusefulorbetterpartnerthanthebuilder?
Quitethereverse。