Republic

”Entirely so,” he said. “And with respect to temperance,” I said, “and courage and magnificence and all the parts of virtue, we must no less guard against the bastard and the genuine. For when someone does not know how to examine such things thoroughly, whether an individual or a city, they unconsciously employ lame and bastard people for whatever they happen to need them for, some as friends, others as rulers.” “Very much so,” he said. “We, then,” I said, “must be on our guard against all such things; for if we bring sound-limbed and sound-minded people to such great learning and such great training and educate them, Justice herself will not blame us, and we shall save the city and the constitution; but if we bring people of a different sort to these things, we shall do the exact opposite and pour even more ridicule upon philosophy.” “That would indeed be shameful,” he said. “Entirely so,” I said. “And I myself seem to have experienced something ridiculous at present.” “What sort of thing?” he said. ”I forgot,” I said, “that we were playing, and I spoke with too much tension. For as I was speaking, I looked at philosophy, and seeing her unworthily mud-splattered, I think I became indignant, and as if angry with those who are responsible, I spoke what I said too seriously.” “By Zeus, no,” he said, “at least not to me as a listener.” “But to me as the speaker,” I said. “And let us not forget this, that in our former election we chose elderly men, but in this one it will not be allowed. For we must not believe Solon when he says that someone who is growing old is able to learn many things, but rather he is less able to do so than to run; all great and many labors belong to the young.” “Necessarily,” he said. “Then, indeed, the studies of calculation and geometry and all the preliminary education that must be taught before dialectic should be put before them while they are still children, not making the form of instruction a matter of compulsion to learn.” “Why is that?” ”Because,” I said, “no free person should learn any study with slavery. For physical labors, when performed under compulsion, do not make the body any worse, but in the soul, no forced study remains permanent.” “True,” he said.

”Therefore, my excellent friend,” I said, “do not rear the children in their studies under compulsion, but playing, so that you may also be better able to discern what each is naturally suited for.” “What you say makes sense,” he said. “Do you not remember, then,” I said, “that we said the children should also be led into war on horses as spectators, and, if it should be safe anywhere, they should be brought close and given a taste of blood, like puppies?” “I remember,” he said. “In all these things, then,” I said, “the labors, studies, and fears, whoever always appears to be the most agile must be enrolled into a certain number.” ”At what age?” he said. “When,” I said, “they are released from the necessary gymnastics; for this period, whether it turns out to be two or three years, is incapable of doing anything else; for fatigue and sleep are enemies to studies. And at the same time, this is also not the least of the tests, how each one will appear in the gymnastics.” “How could it not be?” he said. “After this time, then,” I said, “from those of twenty years of age, those who have been pre-selected will receive greater honors than the others, and the studies which were acquired in a scattered manner by them as children in their education must be brought together for them into a comprehensive view of the relationship of the studies to one another and to the nature of being.” “At any rate, only such learning is lasting in whomsoever it is implanted,” he said. “And it is indeed the greatest test,” I said, “of a dialectical nature or its lack; for the one who can see things as a whole is a dialectician, and the one who cannot is not.” “I agree,” he said. “These things, then,” I said, “it will be necessary for you to examine, and whoever are most of this character among them, and steadfast in studies, steadfast in war and in the other customs—these, in turn, when they pass thirty years of age, selecting them from the pre-selected, you must establish in greater honors and examine, testing them by the power of dialectic, to see who is able, letting go of eyes and the other senses, to go to being itself with truth. And here indeed, my friend, is a task for great caution.” “Why especially?” he said. ”Do you not perceive,” I said, “how great is the evil that currently arises concerning dialectic?” “What sort?” he said. “They are filled, I suppose, with lawlessness,” I said. “Very much so,” he said. “Do you think, then,” I said, “that they suffer anything surprising, and do you not forgive them?” “In what way especially?” he said.