Between Knowledge and Ignorance

Abstract

My interpretation of Book V will be partially determined by my conception of what the dialogue is about. In this section shall try to state my view briefly. The Republic starts with the words I went down yesterday . . . : it finishes by looking forward to the immortal soul's thousand-year journey when it will receive its reward for pursuing justice with (621c5). The dialogue starts in time and ends with eternity. The positive ideal of the dialogue is the union of theoretical and practical wisdom in the philosopherruler. Such a union obviates the evils of instability; it aims at the stability of the individual (VII, 539d4), in harmony with himself both in thought and in action, and the stability of the city, so ensuring peace and harmony. These are interconnected; the man who is at variance with himself in thought is going to be irrational in action also (603dl-3); if he is irrational he will fail to restrain the appetitive part of his soul and thus will become unjust, and if a sufficient number become such this is a recipe for an unjust city, instability and oarot;. The essential propaedeutic for the philosopher is the apprehension of the Forms, archetypes of stability. By acquiring this knowledge, the lover of wisdom and reality distinguishes himself from the