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alcibiades i-第8章

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ALCIBIADES:  Once more; what do you mean?



SOCRATES:  I suppose that we begin to act when we think that we know what

we are doing?



ALCIBIADES:  Yes。



SOCRATES:  But when people think that they do not know; they entrust their

business to others?



ALCIBIADES:  Yes。



SOCRATES:  And so there is a class of ignorant persons who do not make

mistakes in life; because they trust others about things of which they are

ignorant?



ALCIBIADES:  True。



SOCRATES:  Who; then; are the persons who make mistakes?  They cannot; of

course; be those who know?



ALCIBIADES:  Certainly not。



SOCRATES:  But if neither those who know; nor those who know that they do

not know; make mistakes; there remain those only who do not know and think

that they know。



ALCIBIADES:  Yes; only those。



SOCRATES:  Then this is ignorance of the disgraceful sort which is

mischievous?



ALCIBIADES:  Yes。



SOCRATES:  And most mischievous and most disgraceful when having to do with

the greatest matters?



ALCIBIADES:  By far。



SOCRATES:  And can there be any matters greater than the just; the

honourable; the good; and the expedient?



ALCIBIADES:  There cannot be。



SOCRATES:  And these; as you were saying; are what perplex you?



ALCIBIADES:  Yes。



SOCRATES:  But if you are perplexed; then; as the previous argument has

shown; you are not only ignorant of the greatest matters; but being

ignorant you fancy that you know them?



ALCIBIADES:  I fear that you are right。



SOCRATES:  And now see what has happened to you; Alcibiades!  I hardly like

to speak of your evil case; but as we are alone I will:  My good friend;

you are wedded to ignorance of the most disgraceful kind; and of this you

are convicted; not by me; but out of your own mouth and by your own

argument; wherefore also you rush into politics before you are educated。 

Neither is your case to be deemed singular。  For I might say the same of

almost all our statesmen; with the exception; perhaps of your guardian;

Pericles。



ALCIBIADES:  Yes; Socrates; and Pericles is said not to have got his wisdom

by the light of nature; but to have associated with several of the

philosophers; with Pythocleides; for example; and with Anaxagoras; and now

in advanced life with Damon; in the hope of gaining wisdom。



SOCRATES:  Very good; but did you ever know a man wise in anything who was

unable to impart his particular wisdom?  For example; he who taught you

letters was not only wise; but he made you and any others whom he liked

wise。



ALCIBIADES:  Yes。



SOCRATES:  And you; whom he taught; can do the same?



ALCIBIADES:  True。



SOCRATES:  And in like manner the harper and gymnastic…master?



ALCIBIADES:  Certainly。



SOCRATES:  When a person is enabled to impart knowledge to another; he

thereby gives an excellent proof of his own understanding of any matter。



ALCIBIADES:  I agree。



SOCRATES:  Well; and did Pericles make any one wise; did he begin by making

his sons wise?



ALCIBIADES:  But; Socrates; if the two sons of Pericles were simpletons;

what has that to do with the matter?



SOCRATES:  Well; but did he make your brother; Cleinias; wise?



ALCIBIADES:  Cleinias is a madman; there is no use in talking of him。



SOCRATES:  But if Cleinias is a madman and the two sons of Pericles were

simpletons; what reason can be given why he neglects you; and lets you be

as you are?



ALCIBIADES:  I believe that I am to blame for not listening to him。



SOCRATES:  But did you ever hear of any other Athenian or foreigner; bond

or free; who was deemed to have grown wiser in the society of Pericles;as

I might cite Pythodorus; the son of Isolochus; and Callias; the son of

Calliades; who have grown wiser in the society of Zeno; for which privilege

they have each of them paid him the sum of a hundred minae (about 406

pounds sterling) to the increase of their wisdom and fame。



ALCIBIADES:  I certainly never did hear of any one。



SOCRATES:  Well; and in reference to your own case; do you mean to remain

as you are; or will you take some pains about yourself?



ALCIBIADES:  With your aid; Socrates; I will。  And indeed; when I hear you

speak; the truth of what you are saying strikes home to me; and I agree

with you; for our statesmen; all but a few; do appear to be quite

uneducated。



SOCRATES:  What is the inference?



ALCIBIADES:  Why; that if they were educated they would be trained

athletes; and he who means to rival them ought to have knowledge and


experience when he attacks them; but now; as they have become politicians

without any special training; why should I have the trouble of learning and

practising?  For I know well that by the light of nature I shall get the

better of them。



SOCRATES:  My dear friend; what a sentiment!  And how unworthy of your

noble form and your high estate!



ALCIBIADES:  What do you mean; Socrates; why do you say so?



SOCRATES:  I am grieved when I think of our mutual love。



ALCIBIADES:  At what?



SOCRATES:  At your fancying that the contest on which you are entering is

with people here。



ALCIBIADES:  Why; what others are there?



SOCRATES:  Is that a question which a magnanimous soul should ask?



ALCIBIADES:  Do you mean to say that the contest is not with these?



SOCRATES:  And suppose that you were going to steer a ship into action;

would you only aim at being the best pilot on board?  Would you not; while

acknowledging that you must possess this degree of excellence; rather look

to your antagonists; and not; as you are now doing; to your fellow

combatants?  You ought to be so far above these latter; that they will not

even dare to be your rivals; and; being regarded by you as inferiors; will

do battle for you against the enemy; this is the kind of superiority which

you must establish over them; if you mean to accomplish any noble action

really worthy of yourself and of the state。



ALCIBIADES:  That would certainly be my aim。



SOCRATES:  Verily; then; you have good reason to be satisfied; if you are

better than the soldiers; and you need not; when you are their superior and

have your thoughts and actions fixed upon them; look away to the generals

of the enemy。



ALCIBIADES:  Of whom are you speaking; Socrates?



SOCRATES:  Why; you surely know that our city goes to war now and then with

the Lacedaemonians and with the great king?



ALCIBIADES:  True enough。



SOCRATES:  And if you meant to be the ruler of this city; would you not be

right in considering that the Lacedaemonian and Persian king were your true

rivals?



ALCIBIADES:  I believe that you are right。



SOCRATES:  Oh no; my friend; I am quite wrong; and I think that you ought

rather to turn your attention to Midias the quail…breeder and others like

him; who manage our politics; in whom; as the women would remark; you may

still see the slaves' cut of hair; cropping out in their minds as well as

on their pates; and they come with their barbarous lingo to flatter us and

not to rule us。  To these; I say; you should look; and then you need not

trouble yourself about your own fitness to contend in such a noble arena: 

there is no reason why you should either learn what has to be learned; or

practise what has to be practised; and only when thoroughly prepared enter

on a political career。



ALCIBIADES:  There; I think; Socrates; that you are right; I do not

suppose; however; that the Spartan generals or the great king are really

different from anybody else。



SOCRATES:  But; my dear friend; do consider what you are saying。



ALCIBIADES:  What am I to consider?



SOCRATES:  In the first place; will you be more likely to take care of

yourself; if you are in a wholesome fear and dread of them; or if you are

not?



ALCIBIADES:  Clearly; if I have such a fear of them。



SOCRATES:  And do you think that you will sustain any injury if you take

care of yourself?



ALCIBIADES:  No; I shall be greatly benefited。



SOCRATES:  And this is one very important respect in which that notion of

yours is bad。



ALCIBIADES:  True。



SOCRATES:  In the next place; consider that what you say is probably false。



ALCIBIADES:  How so?



SOCRATES:  Let me ask you whether better natures are likely to be found in

noble races or not in noble races?



ALCIBIADES:  Clearly in noble races。



SOCRATES:  Are not those who are well born and well bred most likely to be

perfect in virtue?



ALCIBIADES:  Certainly。



SOCRATES:  Then let us compare our antecedents with those of the

Lacedaemonian and Persian kings; are they inferior to us in descent?  Have

we not heard that the former are sprung from Heracles; and the latter from

Achaemenes; and that the race of Heracles and the race of Achaemenes go

back to Perseus; son of Zeus?



ALCIBIADES:  Why; so does mine go back 
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