理想国：英文 - 图书城.COM

书摘
Therefore, whenever anything pulls back a soul that is under the influence of thirst, it will be something in the soul distinct from the principle which thirsts, and which drives it like a beast to drink: for we hold it to be impossible that the same thing should, at the same time, with the same part of itself, in reference to the same object, be doing two opposite things.
Concerning the gods, then, I continued, such, as it would appear, is the language to be held, and such the language to be forbidden, in the hearing of all,from childhood upwards, who are hereafter to honour thegods and their parents, and to set no small value on mutual friedship.
Yes, he said; and I think our views are correct.
To proceed then: if we intend our citizens to be brave, must we not add to this such lessons as are likely to preserve them most effectually from being afraid of death? Or do you think a man can ever become brave who is haunted by the fear of death?
No, indeed, I do not.
Well, do youimagine that a believer in Hades and its terrors will be free from all fear of death, and in the day of battle will prefer it to defeat and slavery?
Certainly not.
Then apparently we must assume a control over those who undertake to set forth these fables, as well as the others, requesting them not to revile the other world in that unqualified-manner, but rather to speak well of it, because such language is neither true, nor beneficial to men who are intended to be warlike.
We certainly must.
It only remains for us, I proceeded, to inquire how the democratical man is transformed into the tyrannical, and what is the character of the latter after the change, and whether his manner of living is happy or the reverse.
True, this case is still remnaining, he said.
Then do you know, I asked, what I am still desiderating?
What is it?
I think that the number and nature of the appetites has not been satisfactorily defined: and while this deficiency continues, the inquiry upon which we are entering will be wrapped in obscurarity.
It is not too late to supply the deficiency, is it?
Certainly it is not. Observe the peculiarity which I wish to notice in the case before us. It is this. Some of the unnecessary pleasures and appetites are, if I mistake not, unlawful, and these would appear to form m original part of every man, though in the case of some persons, under the correction of the laws and the higher appetites aided by reason, they either wholly disappear, or only a few weak ones remain, while in the case of others they continue strong and merous. And pray, what are the appetites to which you refer?.
I refer to those appetites which bestir themselves in sleep; when, during the slumbers of that other part of the soul, which is rational and tamed and master of the former, the wild animal part, sated with meat or drink, becomes rampant, and pushing sleep away endeavours to set out after the gratification of its own proper character. You know that in such moments there is nothing that it dares not do,
released and delivered as it is from any sense of shame and reflection. It does not shrink from attempting in fancy unholy intercourse with a mother, or with any man or deity or animal whatever; and it does not hesitate to commit the foulest murder, or to indulge itself in the most defiling meats. In one word,there is no limit either to its folly or its audacity.
Well, I continued, I must say that while I am led by a variety of considerations to believe that we were unquestionably right in our plans for organising the state, I feel this convicfon most strongly when I think of our regulations about poetry.
What was the nature of them?
They were to the effect that we ought on no account to admit that branch of poetry which is imitative. And now that the specific parts of file soul have been each separately defined, the conviction that such poetry must be unhesitatingly refused admittance is to my mind even clearer than it was before.
Explain what you mean.
I am quite sure that you will not denounce me to the tragedians,and the whole company of imiative poets, and therefore I do not mmd saying to you that all imitative poetry would seem, to be detrimental to the understanding of those hearers who do not possess the antidote in a knowledge of its real nature.
Pray, what is the purport of yourremarks?
I must speak my mind, although I confess I am checked by a kind of affectionate respect for Homer, of which I have been conscious since I was a child. For of all those beautiful tragic poets he seems to have been the original master and guide. But it would be wrong to honour a man at the expense of truth, and therefore must, as I said, speak out.
By all means do so.
Listen then, or rather reply.
Put your questions.
Can you give me any account of the nature of imitation generally? For I assure you I am at a loss myself to understand its real meaning.
And so you expect me to understand it.
When I had made these remarks I thought we had done with discussing: whereas it seems it was only a prelude. For Glaucon, withthat eminent courage which he displays on all occasions, would not acquiesce in the retreat of Thrasymachus, and began thus: Socrates,do you wish really to convince us that it is on every, account better to be just than to be unjust, or only to seem to have convinced us?
If it were in my power, I replied, I should prefer convincing you really.
Then, he proceeded, you are not doing What you wish. Let me ask you: is there, in your opinion, a class of good things of such a kind that we are glad to possess them, not because we desire their consequences, but simply welcoming them for their own sake? Take for example the feelings of enjoyment and all those pleasures that are harmless, and that are followed by no result in the after time, beyond
simple enjoyment in their possession.
Yes, I certainly think there is a class of this description.
Well, is there another class, do you think, of those which we value both for their own sake and for their results? Such as intelligence, and sight, and health, all of which are welcome, I apprehend, on both accounts.
Yes.
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