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1、THEREPUBLICbyPlatotranslatedbyBenjaminJowettTHEINTRODUCTIONTHERepublicofPlatoisthelongestofhisworkswiththeexceptionoftheLaws,andiscertainlythegreatestofthem.TherearenearerapproachestomodernmetaphysicsinthePhilebusandintheSophist;thePoliticusorStatesmanismoreideal;theformandins
2、titutionsoftheStatearemoreclearlydrawnoutintheLaws;asworksofart,theSymposiumandtheProtagorasareofhigherexcellence.ButnootherDialogueofPlatohasthesamelargenessofviewandthesameperfectionofstyle;noothershowsanequalknowledgeoftheworld,orcontainsmoreofthosethoughtswhicharenewaswell
3、asold,andnotofoneageonlybutofall.NowhereinPlatoisthereadeeperironyoragreaterwealthofhumororimagery,ormoredramaticpower.Norinanyotherofhiswritingsistheattemptmadetointerweavelifeandspeculation,ortoconnectpoliticswithphilosophy.TheRepublicisthecentrearoundwhichtheotherDialoguesm
4、aybegrouped;herephilosophyreachesthehighestpointtowhichancientthinkerseverattained.PlatoamongtheGreeks,likeBaconamongthemoderns,wasthefirstwhoconceivedamethodofknowledge,althoughneitherofthemalwaysdistinguishedthebareoutlineorformfromthesubstanceoftruth;andbothofthemhadtobecon
5、tentwithanabstractionofsciencewhichwasnotyetrealized.Hewasthegreatestmetaphysicalgeniuswhomtheworldhasseen;andinhim,morethaninanyotherancientthinker,thegermsoffutureknowledgearecontained.Thesciencesoflogicandpsychology,whichhavesuppliedsomanyinstrumentsofthoughttoafter-ages,ar
6、ebasedupontheanalysesofSocratesandPlato.Theprinciplesofdefinition,thelawofcontradiction,thefallacyofarguinginacircle,thedistinctionbetweentheessenceandaccidentsofathingornotion,betweenmeansandends,betweencausesandconditions;alsothedivisionofthemindintotherational,concupiscent,
7、andirascibleelements,orofpleasuresanddesiresintonecessaryandunnecessary--theseandothergreatformsofthoughtareallofthemtobefoundintheRepublic,andwereprobablyfirstinventedbyPlato.Thegreatestofalllogicaltruths,andtheoneofwhichwritersonphilosophyaremostapttolosesight,thedifferenceb
8、etweenwordsandthings,hasbeenmoststrenuouslyinsistedonbyhim,al