Justice -- Early works to 1800; Political science -- Early works to 1800; Utopias -- Early works to 1800
Society arises out of the wants of man. His first want is food; his second
a house; his third a coat. The sense of these needs and the possibility of
satisfying them by exchange, draw individuals together on the same spot;
and this is the beginning of a State, which we take the liberty to invent,
although necessity is the real inventor. There must be first a husbandman,
secondly a builder, thirdly a weaver, to which may be added a cobbler.
Four or five citizens at least are required to make a city. *370* Now men
have different natures, and one man will do one thing better than many;
and business waits for no man. Hence there must be a division of labour
into different employments; into wholesale and retail trade; into workers,
and makers of workmen's {xxxiii} tools; into shepherds and husbandmen.
A city which includes all this will have far exceeded the limit of four or
five, and yet not be very large. *371* But then again imports will be
required, and imports necessitate exports, and this implies variety of
produce in order to attract the taste of purchasers; also merchants and
ships. In the city too we must have a market and money and retail trades;
otherwise buyers and sellers will never meet, and the valuable time of the
producers will be wasted in vain efforts at exchange. If we add hired
servants the State will be complete. And we may guess that *372* somewhere
in the intercourse of the citizens with one another justice and injustice
will appear.
Here follows a rustic picture of their way of life. They spend their days
in houses which they have built for themselves; they make their own
clothes and produce their own corn and wine. Their principal food is meal
and flour, and they drink in moderation. They live on the best of terms
with each other, and take care not to have too many children. 'But,' said
Glaucon, interposing, 'are they not to have a relish?' Certainly; they
will have salt and olives and cheese, vegetables and fruits, and chestnuts
to roast at the fire. ''Tis a city of pigs, Socrates.' Why, I replied,
what do you want more? 'Only the comforts of life,--sofas and tables, also
sauces and sweets.' I see; you want not only a State, but a luxurious
State; and possibly in the more complex frame we may sooner find justice
and injustice. Then *373* the fine arts must go to work--every conceivable
instrument and ornament of luxury will be wanted. There will be dancers,
painters, sculptors, musicians, cooks, barbers, tire-women, nurses,
artists; swineherds and neatherds too for the animals, and physicians to
cure the disorders of which luxury is the source. To feed all these
superfluous mouths we shall need a part of our neighbour's land, and they
will want a part of ours. And this is the origin of war, which may be
traced to the same causes as other political evils. *374* Our city will
now require the slight addition of a camp, and the citizen will be
converted into a soldier. But then again our old doctrine of the division
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account