友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!阅读过程发现任何错误请告诉我们,谢谢!!
报告错误
gorgias-第21章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
im which a man ought to have; and towards which he ought to direct all the energies both of himself and of the state; acting so that he may have temperance and justice present with him and be happy; not suffering his lusts to be unrestrained; and in the never…ending desire satisfy them leading a robber's life。 Such; one is the friend neither of God nor man; for he is incapable of communion; and he who is incapable of communion is also incapable of friendship。 And philosophers tell us; Callicles; that communion and friendship and orderliness and temperance and justice bind together heaven and earth and gods and men; and that this universe is therefore called Cosmos or order; not disorder or misrule; my friend。 But although you are a philosopher you seem to me never to have observed that geometrical equality is mighty; both among gods and men; you think that you ought to cultivate inequality or excess; and do not care about geometry。…Well; then; either the principle that the happy are made happy by the possession of justice and temperance; and the miserable the possession of vice; must be refuted; or; if it is granted; what will be the consequences? All the consequences which I drew before; Callicles; and about which you asked me whether I was in earnest when I said that a man ought to accuse himself and his son and his friend if he did anything wrong; and that to this end he should use his rhetoric…all those consequences are true。 And that which you thought that Polus was led to admit out of modesty is true; viz。; that; to do injustice; if more disgraceful than to suffer; is in that degree worse; and the other position; which; according to Polus; Gorgias admitted out of modesty; that he who would truly be a rhetorician ought to be just and have a knowledge of justice; has also turned out to be true。 And now; these things being as we have said; let us proceed in the next place to consider whether you are right in throwing in my teeth that I am unable to help myself or any of my friends or kinsmen; or to save them in the extremity of danger; and that I am in the power of another like an outlaw to whom anyone may do what he likes…he may box my ears; which was a brave saying of yours; or take away my goods or banish me; or even do his worst and kill me; a condition which; as you say; is the height of disgrace。 My answer to you is one which has been already often repeated; but may as well be repeated once more。 I tell you; Callicles; that to be boxed on the ears wrongfully is not the worst evil which can befall a man; nor to have my purse or my body cut open; but that to smite and slay me and mine wrongfully is far more disgraceful and more evil; aye; and to despoil and enslave and pillage; or in any way at all to wrong me and mine; is far more disgraceful and evil to the doer of the wrong than to me who am the sufferer。 These truths; which have been already set forth as I state them in the previous discussion; would seem now to have been fixed and riveted by us; if I may use an expression which is certainly bold; in words which are like bonds of iron and adamant; and unless you or some other still more enterprising hero shall break them; there is no possibility of denying what I say。 For my position has always been; that I myself am ignorant how these things are; but that I have never met any one who could say otherwise; any more than you can; and not appear ridiculous。 This is my position still; and if what I am saying is true; and injustice is the greatest of evils to the doer of injustice; and yet there is if possible a greater than this greatest of evils; in an unjust man not suffering retribution; what is that defence of which the want will make a man truly ridiculous? Must not the defence be one which will avert the greatest of human evils? And will not worst of all defences be that with which a man is unable to defend himself or his family or his friends?…and next will come that which is unable to avert the next greatest evil; thirdly that which is unable to avert the third greatest evil; and so of other evils。 As is the greatness of evil so is the honour of being able to avert them in their several degrees; and the disgrace of not being able to avert them。 Am I not right Callicles? Cal。 Yes; quite right。 Soc。 Seeing then that there are these two evils; the doing injustice and the suffering injustice…and we affirm that to do injustice is a greater; and to suffer injustice a lesser evil…by what devices can a man succeed in obtaining the two advantages; the one of not doing and the other of not suffering injustice? must he have the power; or only the will to obtain them? I mean to ask whether a man will escape injustice if he has only the will to escape; or must he have provided himself with the power? Cal。 He must have provided himself with the power; that is clear。 Soc。 And what do you say of doing injustice? Is the will only sufficient; and will that prevent him from doing injustice; or must he have provided himself with power and art; and if he has not studied and practised; will he be unjust still? Surely you might say; Callicles; whether you think that Polus and I were right in admitting the conclusion that no one does wrong voluntarily; but that all do wrong against their will? Cal。 Granted; Socrates; if you will only have done。 Soc。 Then; as would appear; power and art have to be provided in order that we may do no injustice? Cal。 Certainly。 Soc。 And what art will protect us from suffering injustice; if not wholly; yet as far as possible? I want to know whether you agree with me; for I think that such an art is the art of one who is either a ruler or even tyrant himself; or the equal and companion of the ruling power。 Cal。 Well said; Socrates; and please to observe how ready I am to praise you when you talk sense。 Soc。 Think and tell me whether you would approve of another view of mine: To me every man appears to be most the friend of him who is most like to him…like to like; as ancient sages say: Would you not agree to this? Cal。 I should。 Soc。 But when the tyrant is rude and uneducated; he may be expected to fear any one who is his superior in virtue; and will never be able to be perfectly friendly with him。 Cal。 That is true。 Soc。 Neither will he be the friend of any one who greatly his inferior; for the tyrant will despise him; and will never seriously regard him as a friend。 Cal。 That again is true。 Soc。 Then the only friend worth mentioning; whom the tyrant can have; will be one who is of the same character; and has the same likes and dislikes; and is at the same time willing to be subject and subservient to him; he is the man who will have power in the state; and no one will injure him with impunity:…is not that so? Cal。 Yes。 Soc。 And if a young man begins to ask how he may become great and formidable; this would seem to be the way…he will accustom himself; from his youth upward; to feel sorrow and joy on; the same occasions as his master; and will contrive to be as like him as possible? Cal。 Yes。 Soc。 And in this way he will have accomplished; as you and your friends would。 say; the end of becoming a great man and not suffering injury? Cal。 Very true。 Soc。 But will he a
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!