phaedo-第5章
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little of the probabilities of these things？
I am sure； said Cebes； that I should gready like to know your
opinion about them。
I reckon； said Socrates； that no one who heard me now； not even if
he were one of my old enemies； the comic poets； could accuse me of
idle talking about matters in which I have no concern。 Let us； then；
if you please； proceed with the inquiry。
Whether the souls of men after death are or are not in the world
below； is a question which may be argued in this manner： The ancient
doctrine of which I have been speaking affirms that they go from
this into the other world； and return hither； and are born from the
dead。 Now if this be true； and the living come from the dead； then our
souls must be in the other world； for if not； how could they be born
again？ And this would be conclusive； if there were any real evidence
that the living are only born from the dead； but if there is no
evidence of this； then other arguments will have to be adduced。
That is very true； replied Cebes。
Then let us consider this question； not in relation to man only； but
in relation to animals generally； and to plants； and to everything
of which there is generation； and the proof will be easier。 Are not
all things which have opposites generated out of their opposites？ I
mean such things as good and evil； just and unjust…and there are
innumerable other opposites which are generated out of opposites。
And I want to show that this holds universally of all opposites； I
mean to say； for example； that anything which becomes greater must
become greater after being less。
True。
And that which becomes less must have been once greater and then
become less。
Yes。
And the weaker is generated from the stronger； and the swifter
from the slower。
Very true。
And the worse is from the better； and the more just is from the more
unjust。
Of course。
And is this true of all opposites？ and are we convinced that all
of them are generated out of opposites？
Yes。
And in this universal opposition of all things； are there not also
two intermediate processes which are ever going on； from one to the
other； and back again； where there is a greater and a less there is
also an intermediate process of increase and diminution； and that
which grows is said to wax； and that which decays to wane？
Yes； he said。
And there are many other processes； such as division and
composition； cooling and heating； which equally involve a passage into
and out of one another。 And this holds of all opposites； even though
not always expressed in words…they are generated out of one another；
and there is a passing or process from one to the other of them？
Very true； he replied。
Well； and is there not an opposite of life； as sleep is the opposite
of waking？
True； he said。
And what is that？
Death； he answered。
And these； then； are generated； if they are opposites； the one
from the other； and have there their two intermediate processes also？
Of course。
Now； said Socrates； I will analyze one of the two pairs of opposites
which I have mentioned to you； and also its intermediate processes；
and you shall analyze the other to me。 The state of sleep is opposed
to the state of waking； and out of sleeping waking is generated； and
out of waking； sleeping； and the process of generation is in the one
case falling asleep； and in the other waking up。 Are you agreed
about that？
Quite agreed。
Then suppose that you analyze life and death to me in the same
manner。 Is not death opposed to life？
Yes。
And they are generated one from the other？
Yes。
What is generated from life？
Death。
And what from death？
I can only say in answer…life。
Then the living； whether things or persons； Cebes； are generated
from the dead？
That is clear； he replied。
Then the inference is； that our souls are in the world below？
That is true。
And one of the two processes or generations is visible…for surely
the act of dying is visible？
Surely； he said。
And may not the other be inferred as the complement of nature； who
is not to be supposed to go on one leg only？ And if not； a
corresponding process of generation in death must also be assigned
to her？
Certainly； he replied。
And what is that process？
Revival。
And revival； if there be such a thing； is the birth of the dead into
the world of the living？
Quite true。
Then there is a new way in which we arrive at the inference that the
living come from the dead； just as the dead come from the living；
and if this is true； then the souls of the dead must be in some
place out of which they come again。 And this； as I think； has been
satisfactorily proved。
Yes； Socrates； he said； all this seems to flow necessarily out of
our previous admissions。
And that these admissions are not unfair； Cebes； he said； may be
shown； as I think； in this way： If generation were in a straight
line only； and there were no compensation or circle in nature； no turn
or return into one another； then you know that all things would at
last have the same form and pass into the same state； and there
would be no more generation of them。
What do you mean？ he said。
A simple thing enough； which I will illustrate by the case of sleep；
he replied。 You know that if there were no compensation of sleeping
and waking； the story of the sleeping Endymion would in the end have
no meaning； because all other things would be asleep； too； and he
would not be thought of。 Or if there were composition only； and no
division of substances； then the chaos of Anaxagoras would come again。
And in like manner； my dear Cebes； if all things which partook of life
were to die； and after they were dead remained in the form of death；
and did not come to life again； all would at last die； and nothing
would be alive…how could this be otherwise？ For if the living spring
from any others who are not the dead； and they die； must not all
things at last be swallowed up in death？
There is no escape from that； Socrates； said Cebes； and I think that
what you say is entirely true。
Yes； he said； Cebes； I entirely think so； too； and we are not
walking in a vain imagination； but I am confident in the belief that
there truly is such a thing as living again； and that the living
spring from the dead； and that the souls of the dead are in existence；
and that the good souls have a better portion than the evil。
Cebes added： Your favorite doctrine； Socrates； that knowledge is
simply recollection； if true； also necessarily implies a previous time
in which we learned that which we now recollect。 But this would be
impossible unless our soul was in some place before existing in the
human form； here； then； is another argument of the soul's immortality。
But tell me； Cebes； said Simmias； interposing； what proofs are given
of this doctrine of recollection？ I am not very sure at this moment
that I remember them。
One excellent proof； said Cebes； is afforded by questions。 If you
put a question to a person in a right way； he will give a true
answer of himself； but how could he do this unless there were
knowledge and right reason already in him？ And this is most clearly
shown when he is taken to a diagram or to anything of that sort。
But if； said Socrates； you are still incredulous； Simmias； I would
ask you whether you may not agree with me when you look at the
matter in another way； I mean； if you are still incredulous as to
whether knowledge is recollection。
Incredulous； I am not； said Simmias； but I want to have this
doctrine of recollection brought to my own recollection； and； from
