Dialogues

which is again different, and in which most of the things formerly mentioned are contained⁠—every kind of dress, most sorts of arms, walls and enclosures, whether of earth or stone, and ten thousand other things? all of which being made for the sake of defence, may be truly called defences, and are for the most part to be regarded as the work of the builder or of the weaver, rather than of the Statesman. Young Socrates Certainly. Stranger Shall we add a fifth class, of ornamentation and drawing, and of the imitations produced by drawing and music, which are designed for amusement only, and may be fairly comprehended under one name? Young Socrates What is it? Stranger Plaything is the name. Young Socrates Certainly. Stranger That one name may be fitly predicated of all of them, for none of these things have a serious purpose⁠—amusement is their sole aim. Young Socrates That again I understand. Stranger Then there is a class which provides materials for all these, out of which and in which the arts already mentioned fabricate their works;⁠—this manifold class, I say, which is the creation and offspring of many other arts, may I not rank sixth? Young Socrates What do you mean? Stranger I am referring to gold, silver, and other metals, and all that wood-cutting and shearing of every sort provides for the art of carpentry and plaiting; and there is the process of barking and stripping the cuticle of plants, and the currier’s art, which strips off the skins of animals, and other similar arts which manufacture corks and papyri and cords, and provide for the manufacture of composite species out of simple kinds⁠—the whole class may be termed the primitive and simple possession of man, and with this the kingly science has no concern at all. Young Socrates True. Stranger The provision of food and of all other things which mingle their particles with the particles of the human body, and minister to the body, will form a seventh class, which may be called by the general term of nourishment, unless you have any better name to offer. This, however, appertains rather to the husbandman, huntsman, trainer, doctor, cook, and is not to be assigned to the Statesman’s art. Young Socrates Certainly not. Stranger These seven classes include nearly every description of property, with the exception of tame animals. Consider;⁠—there was the original material, which ought to have been placed first; next come instruments, vessels, vehicles, defences, playthings, nourishment; small things, which may be included under one of these⁠—as for example, coins, seals and stamps, are omitted, for they have not in them the character of any larger kind which includes them; but some of them may, with a little forcing, be placed among ornaments, and others may be made to harmonize with the class of implements. The art of herding, which has been already divided into parts, will include all property in tame animals, except slaves. Young Socrates Very true. Stranger The class of slaves and ministers only remains, and I suspect that in this the real aspirants for the throne, who are the rivals of the king in the formation of the political web, will be discovered; just as spinners, carders, and the rest of them, were the rivals of the weaver. All the others, who were termed cooperators, have been got rid of among the occupations already mentioned, and separated from the royal and political science. Young Socrates I agree. Stranger Let us go a little nearer, in order that we may be more certain of the complexion of this remaining class. Young Socrates Let us do so. Stranger We shall find from our present point of view that the greatest servants are in a case and condition which is the reverse of what we anticipated. Young Socrates Who are they? Stranger Those who have been purchased, and have so become possessions; these are unmistakably slaves, and certainly do not claim royal science. Young Socrates Certainly not. Stranger Again, freemen who of their own accord become the servants of the other classes in a State, and who exchange and equalise the products of husbandry and the other arts, some sitting in the marketplace, others going from city to city by land or sea, and giving money in exchange for money or for other productions⁠—the money-changer, the merchant, the shipowner, the retailer, will not put in any claim to statecraft or politics? Young Socrates No; unless, indeed, to the politics of commerce. Stranger But surely men whom we see acting as hirelings and serfs, and too happy to turn their hand to anything, will not profess to share in royal science? Young Socrates Certainly not. Stranger But what would you say of some other serviceable officials? Young Socrates Who are they, and what services do they perform? Stranger There are heralds, and scribes perfected by practice, and divers others who have great skill in various sorts of business connected with the government of states⁠—what shall we call them? Young Socrates They are the officials, and servants of the rulers, as you just now called them, but not themselves rulers. Stranger There may be something strange in any servant pretending to be a ruler, and yet I do not think that I could have been dreaming when I imagined that the principal claimants to political science would be found somewhere in this neighbourhood. Young Socrates Very true. Stranger Well, let us draw nearer, and try the claims of some who have not yet been tested: in the first place, there are diviners, who have a portion of servile or ministerial science, and are thought to be the interpreters of the gods to men. Young Socrates True. Stranger There is also the priestly class, who, as the law declares, know how to give the gods gifts from men in the form of sacrifices which are acceptable to them, and to ask on our behalf blessings in return from them. Now both these are branches of the servile or ministerial art. Young Socrates Yes, clearly. Stranger And here I think that we seem to be getting on the right track; for the priest and the diviner are swollen with pride