Page - 1403 - in The Complete Plato

“law,” the distribution of mind. But if either a single person or an oligarchy or a democracy has a soul eager after pleasures and desires—wanting to be filled with them, yet retaining none of them, and perpetually afflicted with an endless and insatiable disorder; and this evil spirit, having first trampled the laws under foot, becomes the master either of a state or of an individual— then, as I was saying, salvation is hopeless. And now, Cleinias, we have to consider whether you will or will not accept this tale of mine. Cleinias. Certainly we will. Athenian. You are aware—are you not?—that there are of said to be as many forms of laws as there are of governments, and of the latter we have already mentioned all those which are commonly recognized. Now you must regard this as a matter of first–rate importance. For what is to be the standard of just and unjust, is once more the point at issue. Men say that the law ought not to regard either military virtue, or virtue in general, but only the interests and power and preservation of the established form of government; this is thought by them to be the best way of expressing the natural definition of justice. Cleinias. How? Athenian. Justice is said by them to be the interest of the stronger. Cleinias. Speak plainer. Athenian. I will:—”Surely,” they say, “the governing power makes whatever laws have authority in any state?” Cleinias. True. Athenian. “Well,” they would add, “and do you suppose that tyranny or democracy, or any other conquering power, does not make the continuance of the power which is possessed by them the first or principal object of their laws?” Cleinias. How can they have any other? Athenian. “And whoever transgresses these laws is punished as an evil– doer by the legislator, who calls the laws just?” Cleinias. Naturally. Athenian. “This, then, is always the mode and fashion in which justice exists.” Cleinias. Certainly, if they are correct in their view. Athenian. Why, yes, this is one of those false principles of government to which we were referring. 1403