YOUNG SOCRATES: In what direction?
to this point, not losing the idea of science, but unable as yet to determine the nature of the par-STRANGER: Shall we abide by what we said at ticular science?
first, or shall we retract our words?
YOUNG SOCRATES: True.
YOUNG SOCRATES: To what do you refer?
STRANGER: Hence we are led to observe that the STRANGER: If I am not mistaken, we said that distinguishing principle of the State cannot be the royal power was a science?
few or many, the voluntary or involuntary, poverty or riches; but some notion of science must enter YOUNG SOCRATES: Yes.
into it, if we are to be consistent with what has preceded.
STRANGER: And a science of a peculiar kind, which was selected out of the rest as having a character YOUNG SOCRATES: And we must be consistent.
which is at once judicial and authoritative?
STRANGER: Well, then, in which of these various YOUNG SOCRATES: Yes.
forms of States may the science of government, which is among the greatest of all sciences and most STRANGER: And there was one kind of authority difficult to acquire, be supposed to reside? That we over lifeless things and another other living animals; must discover, and then we shall see who are the and so we proceeded in the division step by step up false politicians who pretend to be politicians but 109
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are not, although they persuade many, and shall call those who possess royal science, whether they separate them from the wise king.
rule or not, as was shown in the previous argument.
YOUNG SOCRATES: That, as the argument has STRANGER: Thank you for reminding me; and the already intimated, will be our duty.
consequence is that any true form of government can only be supposed to be the government of one, STRANGER: Do you think that the multitude in a two, or, at any rate, of a few.
State can attain political science?
YOUNG SOCRATES: Certainly.
YOUNG SOCRATES: Impossible.
STRANGER: And these, whether they rule with the STRANGER: But, perhaps, in a city of a thousand will, or against the will, of their subjects, with writ-men, there would be a hundred, or say fifty, who ten laws or without written laws, and whether they could?
are poor or rich, and whatever be the nature of their rule, must be supposed, according to our present YOUNG SOCRATES: In that case political science view, to rule on some scientific principle; just as the would certainly be the easiest of all sciences; there physician, whether he cures us against our will or could not be found in a city of that number as many with our will, and whatever be his mode of treat-really first-rate draught-players, if judged by the ment,—incision, burning, or the infliction of some standard of the rest of Hellas, and there would cer-other pain,—whether he practises out of a book or tainly not be as many kings. For kings we may truly not out of a book, and whether he be rich or poor, 110
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whether he purges or reduces in some other way, or lic good they purge the State by killing some, or even fattens his patients, is a physician all the same, exiling some; whether they reduce the size of the so long as he exercises authority over them accord-body corporate by sending out from the hive swarms ing to rules of art, if he only does them good and of citizens, or, by introducing persons from with-heals and saves them. And this we lay down to be out, increase it; while they act according to the rules the only proper test of the art of medicine, or of of wisdom and justice, and use their power with a any other art of command.
view to the general security and improvement, the city over which they rule, and which has these char-YOUNG SOCRATES: Quite true.
acteristics, may be described as the only true State.
All other governments are not genuine or real; but STRANGER: Then that can be the only true form only imitations of this, and some of them are bet-of government in which the governors are really ter and some of them are worse; the better are said found to possess science, and are not mere pretend-to be well governed, but they are mere imitations ers, whether they rule according to law or without like the others.
law, over willing or unwilling subjects, and are rich or poor themselves—none of these things can with YOUNG SOCRATES: I agree, Stranger, in the any propriety be included in the notion of the ruler.
greater part of what you say; but as to their ruling without laws—the expression has a harsh sound.
YOUNG SOCRATES: True.
STRANGER: You have been too quick for me, STRANGER: And whether with a view to the pub-Socrates; I was just going to ask you whether you 111
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objected to any of my statements. And now I see YOUNG SOCRATES: Of course not.
that we shall have to consider this notion of there being good government without laws.
STRANGER: But the law is always striving to make one;—like an obstinate and ignorant tyrant, who YOUNG SOCRATES: Certainly.
will not allow anything to be done contrary to his appointment, or any question to be asked—not even STRANGER: There can be no doubt that legisla-in sudden changes of circumstances, when some-tion is in a manner the business of a king, and yet thing happens to be better than what he com-the best thing of all is not that the law should rule, manded for some one.
but that a man should rule supposing him to have wisdom and royal power. Do you see why this is?
YOUNG SOCRATES: Certainly; the law treats us all precisely in the manner which you describe.
YOUNG SOCRATES: Why?
STRANGER: A perfectly simple principle can never be STRANGER: Because the law does not perfectly applied to a state of things which is the reverse of simple.
comprehend what is noblest and most just for all and therefore cannot enforce what is best. The dif-YOUNG SOCRATES: True.
ferences of men and actions, and the endless irregu-lar movements of human things, do not admit of STRANGER: Then if the law is not the perfection any universal and simple rule. And no art whatso-of right, why are we compelled to make laws at all?
ever can lay down a rule which will last for all time.
The reason of this has next to be investigated.