Justice -- Early works to 1800; Political science -- Early works to 1800; Utopias -- Early works to 1800
And when the artist is benefited by receiving pay the advantage is gained
by an additional use of the art of pay, which is not the art professed by
him?
He gave a reluctant assent to this.
*346D* Then the pay is not derived by the several artists from their
respective arts. But the truth is, that while the art of medicine gives
health, and the art of the builder builds a house, another art attends
them which is the art of pay. The various arts may be doing their own
business and benefiting that over which they preside, but would the artist
receive any benefit from his art unless he were paid as well?
I suppose not.
*346E* But does he therefore confer no benefit when he works for nothing?
Certainly, he confers a benefit.
[Sidenote: The true ruler or artist seeks, not his own advantage, but the
perfection of his art; and therefore he must be paid.]
Then now, Thrasymachus, there is no longer any doubt that neither arts nor
governments provide for their own interests; but, as we were before
saying, they rule and provide for the interests of their subjects who are
the weaker {25} and not the stronger--to their good they attend and not to
the good of the superior. And this is the reason, my dear Thrasymachus,
why, as I was just now saying, no one is willing to govern; because no one
likes to take in hand the reformation of evils which are not his concern
without remuneration. *347A* For, in the execution of his work, and in
giving his orders to another, the true artist does not regard his own
interest, but always that of his subjects; and therefore in order that
rulers may be willing to rule, they must be paid in one of three modes of
payment, money, or honour, or a penalty for refusing.
[Sidenote: Three modes of paying rulers, money, honour, and a penalty for
refusing to rule.]
What do you mean, Socrates? said Glaucon. The first two modes of payment
are intelligible enough, but what the penalty is I do not understand, or
how a penalty can be a payment.
You mean that you do not understand the nature of this *347B* payment
which to the best men is the great inducement to rule? Of course you know
that ambition and avarice are held to be, as indeed they are, a disgrace?
Very true.
[Sidenote: The penalty is the evil of being ruled by an inferior.]
[Sidenote: In a city composed wholly of good men there would be a great
unwillingness to rule.]
[Sidenote: Thrasymachus maintains that the life of the unjust is better
than the life of the just.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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