philebus-第15节
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is pushed and overborne by the mob; I open the door wide; and let
knowledge of every sort stream in; and the pure mingle with the
impure?
Pro。 I do not know; Socrates; that any great harm would come of
having them all; if only you have the first sort。
Soc。 Well; then; shall I let them all flow into what Homer
poetically terms 〃a meeting of the waters〃?
Pro。 By all means。
Soc。 There…I have let him in; and now I must return to the
fountain of pleasure。 For we were not permitted to begin by mingling
in a single stream the true portions of both according to our original
intention; but the love of all knowledge constrained us to let all the
sciences flow in together before the pleasures。
Pro。 Quite true。
Soc。 And now the time has come for us to consider about the
pleasures also; whether we shall in like manner let them go all at
once; or at first only the true ones。
Pro。 It will be by far the safer course to let flow the true ones
first。
Soc。 Let them flow; then; and now; if there are any necessary
pleasures; as there were arts and sciences necessary; must we not
mingle them?
Pro。 Yes; the necessary pleasures should certainly be allowed to
mingle。
Soc。 The knowledge of the arts has been admitted to be innocent
and useful always; and if we say of pleasures in like manner that
all of them are good and innocent for all of us at all times; we
must let them all mingle?
Pro。 What shall we say about them; and what course shall we take?
Soc。 Do not ask me; Protarchus; but ask the daughters of pleasure
and wisdom to answer for themselves。
Pro。 How?
Soc。 Tell us; O beloved…shall we call you pleasures or by some other
name?…would you rather live with or without wisdom? I am of opinion
that they would certainly answer as follows:
Pro。 How?
Soc。 They would answer; as we said before; that for any single class
to be left by itself pure and isolated is not good; nor altogether
possible; and that if we are to make comparisons of one class with
another and choose; there is no better companion than knowledge of
things in general; and likewise the perfect knowledge; if that may be;
of ourselves in every respect。
Pro。 And our answer will be:…In that ye have spoken well。
Soc。 Very true。 And now let us go back and interrogate wisdom and
mind: Would you like to have any pleasures in the mixture? And they
will reply:…〃What pleasures do you mean?〃
Pro。 Likely enough。
Soc。 And we shall take up our parable and say: Do you wish to have
the greatest and most vehement pleasures for your companions in
addition to the true ones? 〃Why; Socrates;〃 they will say; 〃how can
we? seeing that they are the source of ten thousand hindrances to
us; they trouble the souls of men; which are our habitation; with
their madness; they prevent us from coming to the birth; and are
commonly the ruin of the children which are born to us; causing them
to be forgotten and unheeded; but the true and pure pleasures; of
which you spoke; know to be of our family; and also those pleasures
which accompany health and temperance; and which every Virtue; like
a goddess has in her train to follow her about wherever she
goes;…mingle these and not the others; there would be great want of
sense in any one who desires to see a fair and perfect mixture; and to
find in it what is the highest good in man and in the universe; and to
divine what is the true form of good…there would be great want of
sense in his allowing the pleasures; which are always in the company
of folly and vice; to mingle with mind in the cup。〃…Is not this a very
rational and suitable reply; which mind has made; both on her own
behalf; as well as on the behalf of memory and true opinion?
Pro。 Most certainly。
Soc。 And still there must be something more added; which is a
necessary ingredient in every mixture。
Pro。 What is that?
Soc。 Unless truth enter into the composition; nothing can truly be
created or subsist。
Pro。 Impossible。
Soc。 Quite impossible; and now you and Philebus must tell me whether
anything is still wanting in the mixture; for to my way of thinking
the argument is now completed; and may be compared to an incorporeal
law; which is going to hold fair rule over a living body。
Pro。 I agree with you; Socrates。
Soc。 And may we not say with reason that we are now at the vestibule
of the habitation of the good?
Pro。 I think that we are。
Soc。 What; then; is there in the mixture which is most precious; and
which is the principal cause why such a state is universally beloved
by all? When we have discovered it; we will proceed to ask whether
this omnipresent nature is more akin to pleasure or to mind。
Pro。 Quite right; in that way we shall be better able to judge。
Soc。 And there is no difficulty in seeing the cause which renders
any mixture either of the highest value or of none at all。
Pro。 What do you mean?
Soc。 Every man knows it。
Pro。 What?
Soc。 He knows that any want of measure and symmetry in any mixture
whatever must always of necessity be fatal; both to the elements and
to the mixture; which is then not a mixture; but only a confused
medley which brings confusion on the possessor of it。
Pro。 Most true。
Soc。 And now the power of the good has retired into the region of
the beautiful; for measure and symmetry are beauty and virtue all
the world over。
Pro。 True。
Soc。 Also we said that truth was to form an element in the mixture。
Pro。 Certainly。
Soc。 Then; if we are not able to hunt the good with one idea only;
with three we may catch our prey; Beauty; Symmetry; Truth are the
three; and these taken together we may regard as the single cause of
the mixture; and the mixture as being good by reason of the infusion
of them。
Pro。 Quite right。
Soc。 And now; Protarchus; any man could decide well enough whether
pleasure or wisdom is more akin to the highest good; and more
honourable among gods and men。
Pro。 Clearly; and yet perhaps the argument had better be pursued
to the end。
Soc。 We must take each of them separately in their relation to
pleasure and mind; and pronounce upon them; for we ought to see to
which of the two they are severally most akin。
Pro。 You are speaking of beauty; truth; and measure?
Soc。 Yes; Protarchus; take truth first; and; after passing in review
mind; truth; pleasure; pause awhile and make answer to yourself…as
to whether pleasure or mind is more akin to truth。
Pro。 There is no need to pause; for the difference between them is
palpable; pleasure is the veriest impostor in the world; and it is
said that in the pleasures of love; which appear to be the greatest;
perjury is excused by the gods; for pleasures; like children; have not
the least particle of reason in them; whereas mind is either the
same as truth; or the most like truth; and the truest。
Soc。 Shall we next consider measure; in like manner; and ask whether
pleasure has more of this than wisdom; or wisdom than pleasure?
Pro。 Here is another question which may be easily answered; for I
imagine that nothing can ever be more immoderate than the transports
of pleasure; or more in conformity with measure than mind and
knowledge。
Soc。 Very good; but there still remains the third test: Has mind a
greater share of beauty than pleasure; and is mind or pleasure the
fairer of the two?
Pro。 No one; Socrates; either awake or dreaming; ever saw or
imagined mind or wisdom to be in aught unseemly; at any time; past;
present; or future。
Soc。 Right。
Pro。 But when we see some one indulging in pleasures; perhaps in the
greatest of pleasures; the ridiculous or disgraceful nature of the
action makes us ashamed; and so we put them out of sight; and
consign them to darkness; under the idea that they ought not to meet
the eye of day。
Soc。 Then; Protarchus; you will proclaim everywhere; by word of
mouth to this company; and by messengers bearing the tidings far and
wide; that pleasure is not the first of possessions; nor yet the
second; but that in measure; and the mean; and the suitable; and the
like; the eternal nature has been found。
Pro。 Yes; that seems to be the result of what has been now said。
Soc。 In the second class is contained the symmetrical and
beautiful and perfect or sufficient; and all which are of that family。
Pro。 True。
Soc。 And if you reckon in the third dass mind and wisdom; you will
not be far wrong; if I divine aright。
Pro。 I dare say。
Soc。 And would you not put in the fourth class the goods which we
were affirming to appertain specially to the soul…sciences and arts
a