Political fragments of Archytas, Charondas, Zaleucus, and other ancient Pythagoreans, preserved by Stobæus : $b and also, Ethical fragments of Hierocles, the celebrated commentator on the Golden Pythagoric Verses, preserved by the same author
Philosophy
Political fragments of Archytas, Charondas, Zaleucus, and other ancient Pythagoreans, preserved by Stobæus : $b and also, Ethical fragments of Hierocles, the celebrated commentator on the Golden Pythagoric Verses, preserved by the same author
Ethics -- Early works to 1800; Political science -- Early works to 1800
In a similar manner also of that part which is auxiliary, powerful,
and efficacious, one part is of a governing nature; another part is
defensive; and the remaining, which is the greater part, is gregal
and military. It is the governing part, therefore, from which the
leaders of armies, the præfects of cohorts, the bands of soldiers,
and the vanguards are derived, and universally all those who rank as
leaders. But the whole genus of the vanguards consists of those that
are most brave, most impetuous, and most daring. And the remaining
multitude is gregarious and military. Of the third part, however,
which is engaged in sordid occupations, and in labouring to procure
the necessaries of life, one part consists of husbandmen, and those
who are employed in the elaboration of the land; but another part
consists of artificers, who procure such instruments and machines
as the occasions of life require; and another part is engaged in
peregrinations and merchandise, and in exporting to foreign regions
such things as are superabundant in the city, and importing into
it other things from foreign countries. The systems of political
society, therefore, are coarranged through so many and such like
parts.
In the next place, it is requisite to speak of their adaptation
and union. Since, however, the whole of political society may
be perfectly assimilated to a lyre, in consequence of requiring
apparatus and coaptation, and also because it is necessary that it
should be touched and used musically;—this being the case, I have
sufficiently spoken above about the apparatus of a polity, and
shown from what and from how many particulars it is constituted.
I shall now, therefore, endeavour to speak of the coaptation and
union of these. I say then, that political society is coadapted
from the following three particulars, from disciplines, the study
of manners [or customs], and from the laws; and that through these
three, man is instructed, and becomes more worthy. For disciplines
are the sources of erudition, and cause the desires to be impelled
to virtue. But the laws, partly detaining by fear, repell men [from
the commission of crimes,] and partly alluring by honours and
gifts, excite them [to virtue]. And manners and studies fashion the
soul like wax, and through their continued energy impress in it
propensities that become, as it were, natural. It is necessary,
however, that these three should have an arrangement in conjunction
with the beautiful, the useful, and the just; and that each of these
three should, if possible, have all these for its final intention;
but if not all of them, it should at least have two or one of them
as the mark at which it aims, in order that disciplines, manners,
and laws may be beautiful, just, and advantageous. In the first
place, however, the beautiful in conduct should be preferred; in
the second place the just; and in the third place, the useful. And
universally the endeavour should be, that through these the city may
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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