Book VII is a recapitulation of the divisions of knowledge in Book VI. The

composite animal in Book IX is an allegory of the parts of the soul. The

noble captain and the ship and the true pilot in Book VI are a figure of

the relation of the people to the philosophers in the State which has been

described. Other figures, such as the dog (ii. 375 A, D; iii. 404 A, 416

A; v. 451 D), or the marriage of the portionless maiden (vi. 495, 496), or

the drones and wasps in the eighth and ninth books, also form links of

connexion in long passages, or are used to recall previous discussions.

Plato is most true to the character of his master when he describes him as

'not of this world.' And with this representation of him the ideal state

and the other paradoxes of the Republic are quite in accordance, though

they cannot be shown to have been speculations of Socrates. To him, as to

other great teachers both philosophical and religious, when they looked

upward, the world seemed to be the embodiment of error and evil. The

common sense of mankind has revolted against this view, or has only

partially admitted it. And even in Socrates himself the sterner judgement

of the multitude at times passes into a sort of ironical pity or love. Men

in general are incapable of philosophy, and are therefore at enmity with

the philosopher; but their misunderstanding of him {xvi} is unavoidable

(vi. 494 foll.; ix. 589 D): for they have never seen him as he truly is in

his own image; they are only acquainted with artificial systems possessing

no native force of truth--words which admit of many applications. Their

leaders have nothing to measure with, and are therefore ignorant of their

own stature. But they are to be pitied or laughed at, not to be quarrelled

with; they mean well with their nostrums, if they could only learn that

they are cutting off a Hydra's head (iv. 426 D, E). This moderation

towards those who are in error is one of the most characteristic features

of Socrates in the Republic (vi. 499-502). In all the different

representations of Socrates, whether of Xenophon or Plato, and amid the

differences of the earlier or later Dialogues, he always retains the

character of the unwearied and disinterested seeker after truth, without

which he would have ceased to be Socrates.

* * * * *

Leaving the characters we may now analyse the contents of the Republic,

and then proceed to consider (1) The general aspects of this Hellenic

ideal of the State, (2) The modern lights in which the thoughts of Plato

may be read.

* * * * *

[Sidenote: _Republic I._ Analysis.]