Remarks on the contrast between ethical theory and ethical precepts _ib._ CHAPTER XXXVII. REPUBLIC--REMARKS ON THE PLATONIC COMMONWEALTH. Double purpose of the Platonic Republic--ethical and political 133 Plato recognises the generating principle of human society--reciprocity of need and service. Particular direction which he gives to this principle 133 The four cardinal virtues are assumed as constituting the whole of Good or Virtue, where each of these virtues resides 134 First mention of these, as an exhaustive classification, in ethical theory. Plato effaces the distinction between Temperance and Justice 135 All the four are here assumed as certain and determinate, though in former dialogues they appear indeterminate and full of unsolved difficulties 137 Difficulties left unsolved, but overleaped by Plato 138 Ethical and political theory combined by Plato, treated apart by Aristotle _ib._ Platonic Commonwealth--only an outline--partially filled up 139 Absolute rule of a few philosophers--Careful and peculiar training of the Guardians _ib._ Comparison of Plato with Xenophon--Cyropædia--OEconomicus 141 Both of them combine polity with education--temporal with spiritual 142 Differences between them--Character of Cyrus _ib._ Xenophontic genius for command--Practical training--Sokratic principles applied in Persian training 144 Plato does not build upon an individual hero. Platonic training compared with Xenophontic 146 Platonic type of character compared with Xenophontic, is like the Athenian compared with the Spartan 147 Professional soldiers are the proper modern standard of comparison with the regulations of Plato and Xenophon 148 Music and Gymnastic--multifarious and varied effects of music 149 Great influence of the poets and their works on education _ib._ Plato's idea of the purpose which poetry and music _ought_ to serve in education 151 He declares war against most of the traditional and consecrated poetry, as mischievous _ib._ Strict limits imposed by Plato on poets 153 His view of the purposes of fiction--little distinction between fiction and truth. His censures upon Homer and the tragedians 154 Type of character prescribed by Plato, to which all poets must conform, in tales about Gods and Heroes 155 Position of Plato as an innovator on the received faith and traditions. Fictions indispensable to the Platonic Commonwealth 156 Difficulty of procuring first admission for fictions. Ease with which they perpetuate themselves after having been once admitted 158 Views entertained by Kritias and others, that the religious doctrines generally believed had originated with law-givers, for useful purposes 159 Main points of dissent between Plato and his countrymen, in respect to religious doctrine 161 Theology of Plato compared with that of Epikurus--Neither of them satisfied the exigencies of a believing religious mind of that day _ib._