THE REPUBLIC OF PLATO - Studyplace

1NTtlODUCTION
natural right of the strong man. It is conventionally called 'llnjust';
but conventions are made by the multitude of the inferior, who
praise equality, the watchword of democracy, because they cannot
get the lion's share for themselves. Callicles appeals to the example
of the lower animals and to the unmitigated selfishness which at
all times governs international relations. In private life he believes
himself to be a whole-hearted hedonist.
The discussion which follows is marked by a bitterness of tone
rarely found elsewhere in the dialogues. The explanation may be
sought in the conflict which had distracted Plato's own mind. The
voice of his political friends is to be heard in the speech where
Callicles contrasts the two lives of public activity and philosophic
study. After asserting the strong man's right to burst the bonds of
convention, he continues:
'That, then, is the troth, as you will find out if you will have done
with philosophy and tum to things of more importance. Philosophy,
you know, Socrates, is well enough if it is taken up with moderation
at the proper age; but to spend too long a time over it spoils a man.
for life. 1 He may have quite good natural gifts, but if he goes on with
such study too late in life, it must end in his missing all that experience
which a man of good position ought to possess, if he is to make
his mark. Such people know nothing about the institutions of their
country, nothing of the language of ordinary social relations, public or
private, nothing of the pleasures and ambitions of common humanity;
in a word, they prove to be completely ignorant of the ways of the
world. So, as soon as they make an appearance in any public transaction
or business of their own, they become ridiculous, just as, I dare
say, men of affairs cut a ludicrous figure in these arguments of yours.
The fact is, as Euripides says, that
"a man shows best
Where he outshines himself; to climb that height
Hell spend in labour more than half his days."
He fights shy of the points where he shows at a disadvantage and gives
them a bad name, while he cries up his strong points out of loyalty to
himself, hoping in that way to be singing his own praises.
1 Cf. Adeimantus' objection at Rt:f1. 487 B (p. 194).