Book 1
643
Ath. But we must not allow our description of education to remain indefinite. For at present, when censuring or commending a man’s upbringing, we describe one man as educated and another as uneducated, though the latter may often be uncommonly well educated in the trade of a pedlar or a skipper, or some other similar occupation. But we, naturally, in our present discourse are not taking the view that such things as these make up education: the education we speak of is training from childhood in goodness, which makes a man eagerly desirous of becoming a perfect citizen, understanding how both to rule and be ruled righteously.
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Ath.This is the special form of nurture to which, as I suppose, our present argument would confine the term education whereas an upbringing which aims only at money-making or physical strength, or even some mental accomplishment devoid of reason and justice, it would term vulgar and illiberal and utterly unworthy of the name education. Let us not, however, quarrel over a name, but let us abide by the statement we agreed upon just now, that those who are rightly educated become, as a rule, good, and that one should in no case disparage education, since it stands first among the finest gifts that are given to the best men; and if ever it errs from the right path, but can be put straight again, to this task every man, so long as he lives, must address himself with all his might.
644
Clin. You are right, and we agree with what you say.
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Ath. Further, we agreed long ago that if men are capable of ruling themselves, they are good, but if incapable, bad.
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Clin. Quite true.
644
Ath. Let us, then, re-state more clearly what we meant by this. With your permission, I will make use of an illustration in the hope of explaining the matter.
644
Clin. Go ahead.
644
Ath. May we assume that each of us by himself is a single unit?
644
Clin. Yes.
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Ath. And that each possesses within himself two antagonistic and foolish counsellors, whom we call by the names of pleasure and pain?
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Clin. That is so.
