Andsoingymnastics,ifamantakesviolentexerciseandisagreatfeeder,andthereverseofagreatstudentofmusicandphilosophy,atfirstthehighconditionofhisbodyfillshimwithprideandspirit,andliebecomestwicethemanthathewas。
Certainly。
Andwhathappens?ifhedonothingelse,andholdsnocon—aversewiththeMuses,doesnoteventhatintelligencewhichtheremaybeinhim,havingnotasteofanysortoflearningorenquiryorthoughtorculture,growfeebleanddullandblind,hismindneverwakinguporreceivingnourishment,andhissensesnotbeingpurgedoftheirmists?
True,hesaid。
Andheendsbybecomingahaterofphilosophy,uncivilized,neverusingtheweaponofpersuasion,——heislikeawildbeast,allviolenceandfierceness,andknowsnootherwayofdealing;andhelivesinallignoranceandevilconditions,andhasnosenseofproprietyandgrace。
Thatisquitetrue,hesaid。
Andastherearetwoprinciplesofhumannature,onethespiritedandtheotherthephilosophical,someGod,asIshouldsay,hasgivenmankindtwoartsansweringtothem(andonlyindirectlytothesoulandbody),inorderthatthesetwoprinciples(likethestringsofaninstrument)mayberelaxedordrawntighteruntiltheyaredulyharmonised。
Thatappearstobetheintention。
Andhewhominglesmusicwithgymnasticinthefairestproportions,andbestattempersthemtothesoul,mayberightlycalledthetruemusicianandharmonistinafarhighersensethanthetunerofthestrings。
Youarequiteright,Socrates。
AndsuchapresidinggeniuswillbealwaysrequiredinourStateifthegovernmentistolast。
Yes,hewillbeabsolutelynecessary。
Such,then,areourprinciplesofnurtureandeducation:Wherewouldbetheuseofgoingintofurtherdetailsaboutthedancesofourcitizens,orabouttheirhuntingandcoursing,theirgymnasticandequestriancontests?Fortheseallfollowthegeneralprinciple,andhavingfoundthat,weshallhavenodifficultyindiscoveringthem。
Idaresaythattherewillbenodifficulty。
Verygood,Isaid;thenwhatisthenextquestion?Mustwenotaskwhoaretoberulersandwhosubjects?
Certainly。
Therecanbenodoubtthattheeldermustruletheyounger。
Clearly。
Andthatthebestofthesemustrule。
Thatisalsoclear。
Now,arenotthebesthusbandmenthosewhoaremostdevotedtohusbandry?
Yes。
Andaswearetohavethebestofguardiansforourcity,musttheynotbethosewhohavemostthecharacterofguardians?
Yes。
Andtothisendtheyoughttobewiseandefficient,andtohaveaspecialcareoftheState?
True。
Andamanwillbemostlikelytocareaboutthatwhichheloves?
Tobesure。
Andhewillbemostlikelytolovethatwhichheregardsashavingthesameinterestswithhimself,andthatofwhichthegoodorevilfortuneissupposedbyhimatanytimemosttoaffecthisown?
Verytrue,hereplied。
Thentheremustbeaselection。Letusnoteamongtheguardiansthosewhointheirwholelifeshowthegreatesteagernesstodowhatisforthegoodoftheircountry,andthegreatestrepugnancetodowhatisagainstherinterests。
Thosearetherightmen。
Andtheywillhavetobewatchedateveryage,inorderthatwemayseewhethertheypreservetheirresolution,andnever,undertheinfluenceeitherofforceorenchantment,forgetorcastofftheirsenseofdutytotheState。
Howcastoff?hesaid。
Iwillexplaintoyou,Ireplied。Aresolutionmaygooutofaman’smindeitherwithhiswilloragainsthiswill;withhiswillwhenhegetsridofafalsehoodandlearnsbetter,againsthiswillwheneverheisdeprivedofatruth。
Iunderstand,hesaid,thewillinglossofaresolution;themeaningoftheunwillingIhaveyettolearn。
Why,Isaid,doyounotseethatmenareunwillinglydeprivedofgood,andwillinglyofevil?Isnottohavelostthetruthanevil,andtopossessthetruthagood?andyouwouldagreethattoconceivethingsastheyareistopossessthetruth?
Yes,hereplied;Iagreewithyouinthinkingthatmankindaredeprivedoftruthagainsttheirwill。
Andisnotthisinvoluntarydeprivationcausedeitherbytheft,orforce,orenchantment?
Still,hereplied,Idonotunderstandyou。
IfearthatImusthavebeentalkingdarkly,likethetragedians。
Ionlymeanthatsomemenarechangedbypersuasionandthatothersforget;argumentstealsawaytheheartsofoneclass,andtimeoftheother;andthisIcalltheft。Nowyouunderstandme?
Yes。
Thoseagainwhoareforcedarethosewhomtheviolenceofsomepainorgriefcompelstochangetheiropinion。
Iunderstand,hesaid,andyouarequiteright。
Andyouwouldalsoacknowledgethattheenchantedarethosewhochangetheirmindseitherunderthesofterinfluenceofpleasure,orthesternerinfluenceoffear?
Yes,hesaid;everythingthatdeceivesmaybesaidtoenchant。
Therefore,asIwasjustnowsaying,wemustenquirewhoarethebestguardiansoftheirownconvictionthatwhattheythinktheinterestoftheStateistobetheruleoftheirlives。Wemustwatchthemfromtheiryouthupwards,andmakethemperformactionsinwhichtheyaremostlikelytoforgetortobedeceived,andhewhoremembersandisnotdeceivedistobeselected,andhewhofallsinthetrialistoberejected。Thatwillbetheway?
Yes。
Andthereshouldalsobetoilsandpainsandconflictsprescribedforthem,inwhichtheywillbemadetogivefurtherproofofthesamequalities。
Veryright,hereplied。
Andthen,Isaid,wemusttrythemwithenchantmentsthatisthethirdsortoftest——andseewhatwillbetheirbehaviour:likethosewhotakecoltsamidnoiseandtumulttoseeiftheyareofatimidnature,somustwetakeouryouthamidterrorsofsomekind,andagainpassthemintopleasures,andprovethemmorethoroughlythangoldisprovedinthefurnace,thatwemaydiscoverwhethertheyarearmedagainstallenchantments,andofanoblebearingalways,goodguardiansofthemselvesandofthemusicwhichtheyhavelearned,andretainingunderallcircumstancesarhythmicalandharmoniousnature,suchaswillbemostserviceabletotheindividualandtotheState。Andhewhoateveryage,asboyandyouthandinmaturelife,hascomeoutofthetrialvictoriousandpure,shallbeappointedarulerandguardianoftheState;heshallbehonouredinlifeanddeath,andshallreceivesepultureandothermemorialsofhonour,thegreatestthatwehavetogive。Buthimwhofails,wemustreject。Iaminclinedtothinkthatthisisthesortofwayinwhichourrulersandguardiansshouldbechosenandappointed。Ispeakgenerally,andnotwithanypretensiontoexactness。
And,speakinggenerally,Iagreewithyou,hesaid。
Andperhapstheword’guardian’inthefullestsenseoughttobeappliedtothishigherclassonlywhopreserveusagainstforeignenemiesandmaintainpeaceamongourcitizensathome,thattheonemaynothavethewill,ortheothersthepower,toharmus。Theyoungmenwhomwebeforecalledguardiansmaybemoreproperlydesignatedauxiliariesandsupportersoftheprinciplesoftherulers。
Iagreewithyou,hesaid。
Howthenmaywedeviseoneofthoseneedfulfalsehoodsofwhichwelatelyspoke——justoneroyalliewhichmaydeceivetherulers,ifthatbepossible,andatanyratetherestofthecity?
Whatsortoflie?hesaid。
Nothingnew,Ireplied;onlyanoldPhoeniciantaleofwhathasoftenoccurredbeforenowinotherplaces,(asthepoetssay,andhavemadetheworldbelieve,)thoughnotinourtime,andIdonotknowwhethersuchaneventcouldeverhappenagain,orcouldnowevenbemadeprobable,ifitdid。
Howyourwordsseemtohesitateonyourlips!
Youwillnotwonder,Ireplied,atmyhesitationwhenyouhaveheard。
Speak,hesaid,andfearnot。
Wellthen,Iwillspeak,althoughIreallyknownothowtolookyouintheface,orinwhatwordstouttertheaudaciousfiction,whichIproposetocommunicategradually,firsttotherulers,thentothesoldiers,andlastlytothepeople。Theyaretobetoldthattheiryouthwasadream,andtheeducationandtrainingwhichtheyreceivedfromus,anappearanceonly;inrealityduringallthattimetheywerebeingformedandfedinthewomboftheearth,wheretheythemselvesandtheirarmsandappurtenancesweremanufactured;
whentheywerecompleted,theearth,theirmother,sentthemup;andso,theircountrybeingtheirmotherandalsotheirnurse,theyareboundtoadviseforhergood,andtodefendheragainstattacks,andhercitizenstheyaretoregardaschildrenoftheearthandtheirownbrothers。
Youhadgoodreason,hesaid,tobeashamedoftheliewhichyouweregoingtotell。
True,Ireplied,butthereismorecoming;Ihaveonlytoldyouhalf。Citizens,weshallsaytotheminourtale,youarebrothers,yetGodhasframedyoudifferently。Someofyouhavethepowerofcommand,andinthecompositionofthesehehasmingledgold,whereforealsotheyhavethegreatesthonour;othershehasmadeofsilver,tobeauxillaries;othersagainwhoaretobehusbandmenandcraftsmenhehascomposedofbrassandiron;andthespecieswillgenerallybepreservedinthechildren。Butasallareofthesameoriginalstock,agoldenparentwillsometimeshaveasilverson,orasilverparentagoldenson。AndGodproclaimsasafirstprincipletotherulers,andaboveallelse,thatthereisnothingwhichshouldsoanxiouslyguard,orofwhichtheyaretobesuchgoodguardians,asofthepurityoftherace。Theyshouldobservewhatelementsmingleintheiroffspring;forifthesonofagoldenorsilverparenthasanadmixtureofbrassandiron,thennatureordersatranspositionofranks,andtheeyeoftherulermustnotbepitifultowardsthechildbecausehehastodescendinthescaleandbecomeahusbandmanorartisan,justastheremaybesonsofartisanswhohavinganadmixtureofgoldorsilverinthemareraisedtohonour,andbecomeguardiansorauxiliaries。ForanoraclesaysthatwhenamanofbrassorironguardstheState,itwillbedestroyed。Suchisthetale;isthereanypossibilityofmakingourcitizensbelieveinit?
Notinthepresentgeneration,hereplied;thereisnowayofaccomplishingthis;buttheirsonsmaybemadetobelieveinthetale,andtheirsons’sons,andposterityafterthem。
Iseethedifficulty,Ireplied;yetthefosteringofsuchabeliefwillmakethemcaremoreforthecityandforoneanother。
Enough,however,ofthefiction,whichmaynowflyabroaduponthewingsofrumour,whilewearmourearth—bornheroes,andleadthemforthunderthecommandoftheirrulers。Letthemlookroundandselectaspotwhencetheycanbestsuppressinsurrection,ifanyproverefractorywithin,andalsodefendthemselvesagainstenemies,wholikewolvesmaycomedownonthefoldfromwithout;thereletthemencamp,andwhentheyhaveencamped,letthemsacrificetotheproperGodsandpreparetheirdwellings。
Justso,hesaid。
Andtheirdwellingsmustbesuchaswillshieldthemagainstthecoldofwinterandtheheatofsummer。
Isupposethatyoumeanhouses,hereplied。
Yes,Isaid;buttheymustbethehousesofsoldiers,andnotofshop—keepers。
Whatisthedifference?hesaid。
ThatIwillendeavourtoexplain,Ireplied。Tokeepwatchdogs,who,fromwantofdisciplineorhunger,orsomeevilhabit,orevilhabitorother,wouldturnuponthesheepandworrythem,andbehavenotlikedogsbutwolves,wouldbeafoulandmonstrousthinginashepherd?
Trulymonstrous,hesaid。
Andthereforeeverycaremustbetakenthatourauxiliaries,beingstrongerthanourcitizens,maynotgrowtobetoomuchforthemandbecomesavagetyrantsinsteadoffriendsandallies?
Yes,greatcareshouldbetaken。
Andwouldnotareallygoodeducationfurnishthebestsafeguard?
Buttheyarewell—educatedalready,hereplied。
Icannotbesoconfident,mydearGlaucon,Isaid;Iammuchcertainthattheyoughttobe,andthattrueeducation,whateverthatmaybe,willhavethegreatesttendencytocivilizeandhumanizethemintheirrelationstooneanother,andtothosewhoareundertheirprotection。
Verytrue,hereplied。
Andnotonlytheireducation,buttheirhabitations,andallthatbelongstothem,shouldbesuchaswillneitherimpairtheirvirtueasguardians,nortemptthemtopreyupontheothercitizens。Anymanofsensemustacknowledgethat。
Hemust。
Thenletusconsiderwhatwillbetheirwayoflife,iftheyaretorealizeourideaofthem。Inthefirstplace,noneofthemshouldhaveanypropertyofhisownbeyondwhatisabsolutelynecessary;
neithershouldtheyhaveaprivatehouseorstoreclosedagainstanyonewhohasamindtoenter;theirprovisionsshouldbeonlysuchasarerequiredbytrainedwarriors,whoaremenoftemperanceandcourage;theyshouldagreetoreceivefromthecitizensafixedrateofpay,enoughtomeettheexpensesoftheyearandnomore;andtheywillgoandlivetogetherlikesoldiersinacamp。GoldandsilverwewilltellthemthattheyhavefromGod;thedivinermetaliswithinthem,andtheyhavethereforenoneedofthedrosswhichiscurrentamongmen,andoughtnottopollutethedivinebyanysuchearthlyadmixture;forthatcommonermetalhasbeenthesourceofmanyunholydeeds,buttheirownisundefiled。Andtheyaloneofallthecitizensmaynottouchorhandlesilverorgold,orbeunderthesameroofwiththem,orwearthem,ordrinkfromthem。Andthiswillbetheirsalvation,andtheywillbethesavioursoftheState。Butshouldtheyeveracquirehomesorlandsormoneysoftheirown,theywillbecomehousekeepersandhusbandmeninsteadofguardians,enemiesandtyrantsinsteadofalliesoftheothercitizens;hatingandbeinghated,plottingandbeingplottedagainst,theywillpasstheirwholelifeinmuchgreaterterrorofinternalthanofexternalenemies,andthehourofruin,bothtothemselvesandtotherestoftheState,willbeathand。ForallwhichreasonsmaywenotsaythatthusshallourStatebeordered,andthattheseshallbetheregulationsappointedbyusforguardiansconcerningtheirhousesandallothermatters?otherYes,saidGlaucon。
BOOKIV
ADEIMANTUS—SOCRATES
HEREAdeimantusinterposedaquestion:Howwouldyouanswer,Socrates,saidhe,ifapersonweretosaythatyouaremakingthesepeoplemiserable,andthattheyarethecauseoftheirownunhappiness;thecityinfactbelongstothem,buttheyarenonethebetterforit;whereasothermenacquirelands,andbuildlargeandhandsomehouses,andhaveeverythinghandsomeaboutthem,offeringsacrificestothegodsontheirownaccount,andpractisinghospitality;moreover,asyouweresayingjustnow,theyhavegoldandsilver,andallthatisusualamongthefavouritesoffortune;butourpoorcitizensarenobetterthanmercenarieswhoarequarteredinthecityandarealwaysmountingguard?
Yes,Isaid;andyoumayaddthattheyareonlyfed,andnotpaidinadditiontotheirfood,likeothermen;andthereforetheycannot,iftheywould,takeajourneyofpleasure;theyhavenomoneytospendonamistressoranyotherluxuriousfancy,which,astheworldgoes,isthoughttobehappiness;andmanyotheraccusationsofthesamenaturemightbeadded。
But,saidhe,letussupposeallthistobeincludedinthecharge。
Youmeantoask,Isaid,whatwillbeouranswer?
Yes。
Ifweproceedalongtheoldpath,mybelief,Isaid,isthatweshallfindtheanswer。Andouranswerwillbethat,evenastheyare,ourguardiansmayverylikelybethehappiestofmen;butthatouraiminfoundingtheStatewasnotthedisproportionatehappinessofanyoneclass,butthegreatesthappinessofthewhole;wethoughtthatinaStatewhichisorderedwithaviewtothegoodofthewholeweshouldbemostlikelytofindJustice,andintheill—orderedStateinjustice:and,havingfoundthem,wemightthendecidewhichofthetwoisthehappier。Atpresent,Itakeit,wearefashioningthehappyState,notpiecemeal,orwithaviewofmakingafewhappycitizens,butasawhole;andby—and—bywewillproceedtoviewtheoppositekindofState。Supposethatwewerepaintingastatue,andsomeonecameuptousandsaid,Whydoyounotputthemostbeautifulcoloursonthemostbeautifulpartsofthebody——theeyesoughttobepurple,butyouhavemadethemblack——tohimwemightfairlyanswer,Sir,youwouldnotsurelyhaveusbeautifytheeyestosuchadegreethattheyarenolongereyes;considerratherwhether,bygivingthisandtheotherfeaturestheirdueproportion,wemakethewholebeautiful。AndsoIsaytoyou,donotcompelustoassigntotheguardiansasortofhappinesswhichwillmakethemanythingbutguardians;forwetoocanclotheourhusbandmeninroyalapparel,andsetcrownsofgoldontheirheads,andbidthemtillthegroundasmuchastheylike,andnomore。Ourpottersalsomightbeallowedtoreposeoncouches,andfeastbythefireside,passingroundthewinecup,whiletheirwheelisconvenientlyathand,andworkingatpotteryonlyasmuchastheylike;inthiswaywemightmakeeveryclasshappy—andthen,asyouimagine,thewholeStatewouldbehappy。Butdonotputthisideaintoourheads;for,ifwelistentoyou,thehusbandmanwillbenolongerahusbandman,thepotterwillceasetobeapotter,andnoonewillhavethecharacterofanydistinctclassintheState。Nowthisisnotofmuchconsequencewherethecorruptionofsociety,andpretensiontobewhatyouarenot,isconfinedtocobblers;butwhentheguardiansofthelawsandofthegovernmentareonlyseeminglyandnotrealguardians,thenseehowtheyturntheStateupsidedown;andontheotherhandtheyalonehavethepowerofgivingorderandhappinesstotheState。WemeanourguardianstobetruesavioursandnotthedestroyersoftheState,whereasouropponentisthinkingofpeasantsatafestival,whoareenjoyingalifeofrevelry,notofcitizenswhoaredoingtheirdutytotheState。But,ifso,wemeandifferentthings,andheisspeakingofsomethingwhichisnotaState。Andthereforewemustconsiderwhetherinappointingourguardianswewouldlooktotheirgreatesthappinessindividually,orwhetherthisprincipleofhappinessdoesnotratherresideintheStateasawhole。Butthelatterbethetruth,thentheguardiansandauxillaries,andallothersequallywiththem,mustbecompelledorinducedtodotheirownworkinthebestway。AndthusthewholeStatewillgrowupinanobleorder,andtheseveralclasseswillreceivetheproportionofhappinesswhichnatureassignstothem。
Ithinkthatyouarequiteright。
Iwonderwhetheryouwillagreewithanotherremarkwhichoccurstome。
Whatmaythatbe?
Thereseemtobetwocausesofthedeteriorationofthearts。
Whatarethey?
Wealth,Isaid,andpoverty。
Howdotheyact?
Theprocessisasfollows:Whenapotterbecomesrich,willhe,thinkyou,anylongertakethesamepainswithhisart?
Certainlynot。
Hewillgrowmoreandmoreindolentandcareless?
Verytrue。
Andtheresultwillbethathebecomesaworsepotter?
Yes;hegreatlydeteriorates。
But,ontheotherhand,ifhehasnomoney,andcannotprovidehimselftoolsorinstruments,hewillnotworkequallywellhimself,norwillheteachhissonsorapprenticestoworkequallywell。
Certainlynot。
Then,undertheinfluenceeitherofpovertyorofwealth,workmenandtheirworkareequallyliabletodegenerate?
Thatisevident。
Here,then,isadiscoveryofnewevils,Isaid,againstwhichtheguardianswillhavetowatch,ortheywillcreepintothecityunobserved。
Whatevils?
Wealth,Isaid,andpoverty;theoneistheparentofluxuryandindolence,andtheotherofmeannessandviciousness,andbothofdiscontent。
Thatisverytrue,hereplied;butstillIshouldliketoknow,Socrates,howourcitywillbeabletogotowar,especiallyagainstanenemywhoisrichandpowerful,ifdeprivedofthesinewsofwar。
Therewouldcertainlybeadifficulty,Ireplied,ingoingtowarwithonesuchenemy;butthereisnodifficultywheretherearetwoofthem。
Howso?heasked。
Inthefirstplace,Isaid,ifwehavetofight,oursidewillbetrainedwarriorsfightingagainstanarmyofrichmen。
Thatistrue,hesaid。
Anddoyounotsuppose,Adeimantus,thatasingleboxerwhowasperfectinhisartwouldeasilybeamatchfortwostoutandwell—to—dogentlemenwhowerenotboxers?
Hardly,iftheycameuponhimatonce。
What,not,Isaid,ifhewereabletorunawayandthenturnandstrikeattheonewhofirstcameup?Andsupposingheweretodothisseveraltimesundertheheatofascorchingsun,mighthenot,beinganexpert,overturnmorethanonestoutpersonage?
Certainly,hesaid,therewouldbenothingwonderfulinthat。
Andyetrichmenprobablyhaveagreatersuperiorityinthescienceandpracticeofboxingthantheyhaveinmilitaryqualities。
Likelyenough。
Thenwemayassumethatourathleteswillbeabletofightwithtwoorthreetimestheirownnumber?
Iagreewithyou,forIthinkyouright。
Andsupposethat,beforeengaging,ourcitizenssendanembassytooneofthetwocities,tellingthemwhatisthetruth:Silverandgoldweneitherhavenorarepermittedtohave,butyoumay;doyouthereforecomeandhelpusinwar,ofandtakethespoilsoftheothercity:Who,onhearingthesewords,wouldchoosetofightagainstleanwirydogs,ratherththan,withthedogsontheirside,againstfatandtendersheep?
Thatisnotlikely;andyettheremightbeadangertothepoorStateifthewealthofmanyStatesweretobegatheredintoone。
ButhowsimpleofyoutousethetermStateatallofanybutourown!
Whyso?
YououghttospeakofotherStatesinthepluralnumber;notoneofthemisacity,butmanycities,astheysayinthegame。Forindeedanycity,howeversmall,isinfactdividedintotwo,onethecityofthepoor,theotheroftherich;theseareatwarwithoneanother;andineithertherearemanysmallerdivisions,andyouwouldbealtogetherbesidethemarkifyoutreatedthemallasasingleState。Butifyoudealwiththemasmany,andgivethewealthorpowerorpersonsoftheonetotheothers,youwillalwayshaveagreatmanyfriendsandnotmanyenemies。AndyourState,whilethewiseorderwhichhasnowbeenprescribedcontinuestoprevailinher,willbethegreatestofStates,Idonotmeantosayinreputationorappearance,butindeedandtruth,thoughshenumbernotmorethanathousanddefenders。AsingleStatewhichisherequalyouwillhardlyfind,eitheramongHellenesorbarbarians,thoughmanythatappeartobeasgreatandmanytimesgreater。
Thatismosttrue,hesaid。
Andwhat,Isaid,willbethebestlimitforourrulerstofixwhentheyareconsideringthesizeoftheStateandtheamountofterritorywhichtheyaretoinclude,andbeyondwhichtheywillnotgo?
Whatlimitwouldyoupropose?
IwouldallowtheStatetoincreasesofarasisconsistentwithunity;that,Ithink,istheproperlimit。
Verygood,hesaid。