The works of Plato (Vol. 1 of 6) : $b A new and literal version chiefly from the text of StallbaumPlato
PhilosophyPhilosophy
The works of Plato (Vol. 1 of 6) : $b A new and literal version chiefly from the text of Stallbaum
Plato
Philosophy -- Early works to 1800
“Without doubt,” said Cebes, “into such as these.”
“Is it not then evident,” he continued, “as to the rest, whither each
will go, according to the resemblances of their several pursuits?”
71. “It is evident,” he replied, “how not?”
“Of these, then,” he said, “are not they the most happy, and do they not
go to the best place, who have practised that social and civilized
virtue, which they call temperance and justice, and which is produced
from habit and exercise, without philosophy and reflection?”
“In what respect are these the most happy?”
“Because it is probable that these should again migrate into a
corresponding civilized and peaceable kind of animals, such as bees
perhaps, or wasps, or ants, or even into the same human species again,
and from these become moderate men.”
“It is probable.”
“But it is not lawful for any one, who has not studied philosophy and
departed this life perfectly pure, to pass into the rank of gods, but
only for the true lover of wisdom. And on this account, my friends
Simmias and Cebes, those who philosophize rightly abstain from all
bodily desires, and persevere in doing so, and do not give themselves up
to them, not fearing the loss of property and poverty, as the generality
of men and the lovers of wealth; nor again dreading disgrace and
ignominy like those who are lovers of power and honour, do they then
abstain from them.”
“For it would not become them to do so, Socrates,” says Cebes.
72. “It would not, by Jupiter,” he rejoined. “Wherefore, Cebes, they who
care at all for their soul, and do not spend their lives in the culture
of their bodies, despising all these, proceed not in the same way with
them, as being ignorant whither they are going, but being convinced that
they ought not to act contrary to philosophy, but in accordance with the
freedom and purification she affords, they give themselves up to her
direction, following her wherever she leads.”
“How, Socrates?”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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