philebus-第6章
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to be distinct from them…and may therefore be called a fourth
principle?
Pro。 So let us call it。
Soc。 Quite right; but now; having distinguished the four; I think
that we had better refresh our memories by recapitulating each of them
in order。
Pro。 By all means。
Soc。 Then the first I will call the infinite or unlimited; and the
second the finite or limited; then follows the third; an essence
compound and generated; and I do not think that I shall be far wrong
in speaking of the cause of mixture and generation as the fourth。
Pro。 Certainly not。
Soc。 And now what is the next question; and how came we hither? Were
we not enquiring whether the second place belonged to pleasure or
wisdom?
Pro。 We were。
Soc。 And now; having determined these points; shall we not be better
able to decide about the first and second place; which was the
original subject of dispute?
Pro。 I dare say。
Soc。 We said; if you remember; that the mixed life of pleasure and
wisdom was the conqueror…did we not?
Pro。 True。
Soc。 And we see what is the place and nature of this life and to
what class it is to be assigned?
Pro。 Beyond a doubt。
Soc。 This is evidently comprehended in the third or mixed class;
which is not composed of any two particular ingredients; but of all
the elements of infinity; bound down by the finite; and may
therefore be truly said to comprehend the conqueror life。
Pro。 Most true。
Soc。 And what shall we say; Philebus; of your life which is all
sweetness; and in which of the aforesaid classes is that to be placed?
Perhaps you will allow me to ask you a question before you answer?
Phi。 Let me hear。
Soc。 Have pleasure and pain a limit; or do they belong to the
class which admits of more and less?
Phi。 They belong to the class which admits of more; Socrates; for
pleasure would not be perfectly good if she were not infinite in
quantity and degree。
Soc。 Nor would pain; Philebus; be perfectly evil。 And therefore
the infinite cannot be that element which imparts to pleasure some
degree of good。 But now…admitting; if you like; that pleasure is of
the nature of the infinite…in which of the aforesaid classes; O
Protarchus and Philebus; can we without irreverence place wisdom and
knowledge and mind? And let us be careful; for I think that the danger
will be very serious if we err on this point。
Phi。 You magnify; Socrates; the importance of your favourite god。
Soc。 And you; my friend; are also magnifying your favourite goddess;
but still I must beg you to answer the question。
Pro。 Socrates is quite right; Philebus; and we must submit to him。
Phi。 And did not you; Protarchus; propose to answer in my place?
Pro。 Certainly I did; but I am now in a great strait; and I must
entreat you; Socrates; to be our spokesman; and then we shall not
say anything wrong or disrespectful of your favourite。
Soc。 I must obey you; Protarchus; nor is the task which you impose a
difficult one; but did I really; as Philebus implies; disconcert you
with my playful solemnity; when I asked the question to what class
mind and knowledge belong?
Pro。 You did; indeed; Socrates。
Soc。 Yet the answer is easy; since all philosophers assert with
one voice that mind is the king of heaven and earth…in reality they
are magnifying themselves。 And perhaps they are right。 But still I
should like to consider the class of mind; if you do not object; a
little more fully。
Phi。 Take your own course; Socrates; and never mind length; we shall
not tire of you。
Soc。 Very good; let us begin then; Protarchus; by asking a question。
Pro。 What question?
Soc。 Whether all this which they call the universe is left to the
guidance of unreason and chance medley; or; on the contrary; as our
fathers have declared; ordered and governed by a marvellous
intelligence and wisdom。
Pro。 Wide asunder are the two assertions; illustrious Socrates;
for that which you were just now saying to me appears to be blasphemy;
but the other assertion; that mind orders all things; is worthy of the
aspect of the world; and of the sun; and of the moon; and of the stars
and of the whole circle of the heavens; and never will I say or
think otherwise。
Soc。 Shall we then agree with them of old time in maintaining this
doctrine…not merely reasserting the notions of others; without risk to
ourselves;…but shall we share in the danger; and take our part of
the reproach which will await us; when an ingenious individual
declares that all is disorder?
Pro。 That would certainly be my wish。
Soc。 Then now please to consider the next stage of the argument。
Pro。 Let me hear。
Soc。 We see that the elements which enter into the nature of the
bodies of all animals; fire; water; air; and; as the storm…tossed
sailor cries; 〃land〃 'i。e。; earth'; reappear in the constitution of
the world。
Pro。 The proverb may be applied to us; for truly the storm gathers
over us; and we are at our wit's end。
Soc。 There is something to be remarked about each of these elements。
Pro。 What is it?
Soc。 Only a small fraction of any one of them exists in us; and that
of a mean sort; and not in any way pure; or having any power worthy of
its nature。 One instance will prove this of all of them; there is fire
within us; and in the universe。
Pro。 True。
Soc。 And is not our fire small and weak and mean? But the fire in
the universe is wonderful in quantity and beauty; and in every power
that fire has。
Pro。 Most true。
Soc。 And is the fire in the universe nourished and generated and
ruled by the fire in us; or is the fire in you and me; and in other
animals; dependent on the universal fire?
Pro。 That is a question which does not deserve an answer。
Soc。 Right; and you would say the same; if I am not mistaken; of the
earth which is in animals and the earth which is in the universe;
and you would give a similar reply about all the other elements?
Pro。 Why; how could any man who gave any other be deemed in his
senses?
Soc。 I do not think that he could…but now go on to the next step。
When we saw those elements of which we have been speaking gathered
up in one; did we not call them a body?
Pro。 We did。
Soc。 And the same may be said of the cosmos; which for the same
reason may be considered to be a body; because made up of the same
elements。
Pro。 Very true。
Soc。 But is our body nourished wholly by this body; or is this
body nourished by our body; thence deriving and having the qualities
of which we were just now speaking?
Pro。 That again; Socrates; is a question which does not deserve to
be asked。
Soc。 Well; tell me; is this question worth asking?
Pro。 What question?
Soc。 May our body be said to have a soul?
Pro。 Clearly。
Soc。 And whence comes that soul; my dear Protarchus; unless the body
of the universe; which contains elements like those in our bodies
but in every way fairer; had also a soul? Can there be another source?
Pro。 Clearly; Socrates; that is the only source。
Soc。 Why; yes; Protarchus; for surely we cannot imagine that of
the four classes; the finite; the infinite; the composition of the
two; and the cause; the fourth; which enters into all things; giving
to our bodies souls; and the art of self…management; and of healing
disease; and operating in other ways to heal and organize; having
too all the attributes of wisdom;…we cannot; I say; imagine that
whereas the self…same elements exist; both in the entire heaven and in
great provinces of the heaven; only fairer and purer; this last should
not also in that higher sphere have designed the noblest and fairest
things?
P