statesman-第13章
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with intelligence and skill； are able to preserve them； and；
as far as
may be； to make them better from being worse。
Y。 Soc。 No one can deny what has been now said。
Str。 Neither； if you consider； can any one deny the other
statement。
Y。 Soc。 What was it？
Str。 We said that no great number of persons； whoever they may be；
can attain political knowledge； or order a State wisely； but that
the true government is to be found in a small body； or in an
individual； and that other States are but imitations of this； as we
said a little while ago； some for the better and some for the worse。
Y。 Soc。 What do you mean？ I cannot have understood your previous
remark about imitations。
Str。 And yet the mere suggestion which I hastily threw out
is highly
important； even if we leave the question where it is； and do not
seek by the discussion of it to expose the error which prevails in
this matter。
Y。 Soc。 What do you mean？
Str。 The idea which has to be grasped by us is not easy or
familiar；
but we may attempt to express it thus：…Supposing the government of
which I have been speaking to be the only true model； then the
others must use the written laws of this…in no other can they be
saved； they will have to do what is now generally approved； although
not the best thing in the world。
Y。 Soc。 What is this？
Str。 No citizen should do anything contrary to the laws； and any
infringement of them should be punished with death and the most
extreme penalties； and this is very right and good when regarded as
the second best thing； if you set aside the first； of which
I was just
now speaking。 Shall I explain the nature of what call the
second best？
Y。 Soc。 By all means。
Str。 I must again have recourse to my favourite images； through
them； and them alone； can I describe kings and rulers。
Y。 Soc。 What images？
Str。 The noble pilot and the wise physician； who 〃is worth many
another man〃…in the similitude of these let us endeavour to discover
some image of the king。
Y。 Soc。 What sort of image？
Str。 Well； such as this：…Every man will reflect that he suffers
strange things at the hands of both of them； the physician； saves
any whom he wishes to save； and any whom he wishes to maltreat he
maltreats…cutting or burning them； and at the same time
requiring them
to bring him patients； which are a sort of tribute； of which
little or
nothing is spent upon the sick man； and the greater part is consumed
by him and his domestics； and the finale is that he receives money
from the relations of the sick man or from some enemy of
his； and puts
him out of the way。 And the pilots of ships are guilty； of
numberless evil deeds of the same kind； they intentionally play
false and leave you ashore when the hour of sailing arrives； or they
cause mishaps at sea and cast away their freight； and are guilty of
other rogueries。 Now suppose that we； bearing all this in mind； were
to determine； after consideration； that neither of these arts shall
any longer be allowed to exercise absolute control either
over freemen
or over slaves； but that we will summon an assembly either of all
the people； or of the rich only； that anybody who likes； whatever
may be his calling； or even if he have no calling； may offer an
opinion either about seamanship or about diseases…whether as to the
manner in which physic or surgical instruments are to be applied to
the patient； or again about the vessels and the nautical implements
which are required in navigation； and how to meet the
dangers of winds
and waves which are incidental to the voyage； how to behave when
encountering pirates； and what is to be done with the old fashioned
galleys； if they have to fight with others of a similar build…and
that； whatever shall be decreed by the multitude on these
points； upon
the advice of persons skilled or unskilled； shall be written down on
triangular tablets and columns； or enacted although unwritten to be
national customs； and that in all future time vessels shall be
navigated and remedies administered to the patient after
this fashion。
Y。 Soc。 What a strange notion！
Str。 Suppose further； that the pilots and physicians are appointed
annually； either out of the rich； or out of the whole
people； and that
they are elected by lot； and that after their election they navigate
vessels and heal the sick according to the written rules。
Y。 Soc。 Worse and worse。
Str。 But hear what follows：…When the year of office has
expired； the
pilot or physician has to come before a court of review； in which
the judges are either selected from the wealthy classes or chosen by
lot out of the whole people； and anybody who pleases may be their
accuser； and may lay to their charge； that during the past year they
have not navigated their vessels or healed their patients
according to
the letter of the law and the ancient customs of their ancestors；
and if either of them is condemned； some of the judges must fix what
he is to suffer or pay。
Y。 Soc。 He who is willing to take a command under such conditions；
deserves to suffer any penalty。
Str。 Yet once more； we shall have to enact that if any one is
detected enquiring into piloting and navigation； or into health and
the true nature of medicine； or about the winds； or other conditions
of the atmosphere； contrary to the written rules； and has any
ingenious notions about such matters； he is not to be called a pilot
or physician； but a cloudy prating sophist；…further； on the ground
that he is a corrupter of the young； who would persuade them。 to
follow the art of medicine or piloting in an unlawful manner； and to
exercise an arbitrary rule over their patients or ships； any one who
is qualified by law may inform against him； and indict him in some
court； and then if he is found to be persuading any； whether young
or old； to act contrary to the written law； he is to be punished
with the utmost rigour； for no one should presume to be
wiser than the
laws； and as touching healing and health and piloting and
navigation； the nature of them is known to all； for anybody may
learn the written laws and the national customs。 If such
were the mode
of procedure； Socrates； about these sciences and about generalship；
and any branch of hunting； or about painting or imitation in
general； or carpentry； or any sort of handicraft； or husbandry； or
planting； or if we were to see an art of rearing horses； or tending
herds； or divination； or any ministerial service； or
draught…playing； or any science conversant with number；
whether simple
or square or cube； or comprising motion…I say； if all these things
were done in this way according to written regulations； and not
according to art； what would be the result？
Y。 Soc。 All the arts would utterly perish； and could never be
recovered； because enquiry would be unlawful。 And human
life； which is
bad enough already； would then become utterly unendurable。
Str。 But what； if while compelling all these operations to be
regulated by written law； we were to appoint as the guardian of the
laws some one elected by a show of hands； or by lot； and he caring
nothing about the laws； were to act contrary to them from motives of
interest or favour； and without knowledge…would not this be a still
worse evil than the former？
Y。 Soc。 Very true。
Str。 To go against the laws； which are based upon long experience；
and the wisdom of counsellors who have graciously
recommended them and
persuaded the multitude to pass them； would be a far greater and
more ruinous error than any adherence to written law？
Y。 Soc。 Certainly。
Str。 Therefore； as there is a danger of this； the next
best thing in
legislating is not to allow either the individual or the multitude
to break the law in any respect whatever。
Y。 Soc。 True。
Str。 The laws would be copies of the true particulars of action as
far as they admit of being written down from the lips of those who
have knowledge？
Y。 Soc。 Certainly they would。
Str。 And； as we were saying； he who has knowled
