THE REPUBLIC OF PLATO - Studyplace

66 CHAPTER VIII [II. 376
Shall we boldly say, then, that the same is true of human beings
If a man is to be gentle towards his own people whom he knows,
he must have an instinctive love of wisdom and understanding.
Agreed.
So the nature required to make a really noble Guardian of our
commonwealth will be swift and strong, spirited, and philosophic.
Quite so.
Given those natural qualities, then, how are these Guardians to
be brought up and educated First, will the answer to that question
help the purpose of our whole inquiry, which is to make out how
justice and injustice grow up in a state We want to be thorough,
but not to draw out this discussion to a needless length.
Glaucon's brother answered: I certainly think it will help.
If so, I said, we must not think of dropping it, though it may
be rather a long business.
I agree.
Come on then. We will take our time and educate our imaginary
citizens.
Yes, let us do so.
CHAPTER IX (n. 376 E-III. 412 B)
PRIMARY EDUCATION OF THE GUARDIANS
The education of Athenian boys, for which the family, not the
state, was responsible, was carried on at private day-schools. It
mainly consisted of reading and writing ('Grammatic'); learning
and reciting epic and dramatic poetry, lyre-playing and singing
lyric poetry, the rudiments of arithmetic and geometry ('Music');
and athletic exercises ('Gymnastic'). 'Music' included all the arts
over which the Muses presided: music, art, letters, culture, philosophy.
Since the word has now a much restricted meaning, the transfound
in animals; but curiosity has no connexion with gentleness, and for Plato
reason is an independent faculty, existing only in man and not developed from any
animal instinct.