Reference address : https://ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/ancient-greece/plato-paideia-cave.asp?pg=7

Plato Bilingual Anthology : PAIDEIA - OUT OF THE CAVE

from Politeia, * 514a-518d, translated by B. Jowett
* Parts translated by Elpenor in <angle brackets>

Greek Fonts / Plato Complete works / Plato Concept

Page 7

But, whether true or false, my opinion is that in the world of knowledge the idea of good appears last of all, and is seen only with an effort; and, when seen, is also inferred to be the universal author of all things beautiful and right, parent of light and of the lord of light in this visible world, and the immediate source of reason and truth in the intellectual; and that this is the power upon which he who would act rationally, either in public or private life must have his eye fixed. I agree, he said, as far as I am able to understand you. Moreover, I said, you must not wonder that those who attain to this beatific vision are unwilling to descend to human affairs; for their souls are ever hastening into the upper world where they desire to dwell; which desire of theirs is very natural, if our allegory may be trusted. Yes, very natural.

τὰ δ΄ οὖν ἐμοὶ φαινόμενα οὕτω φαίνεται͵ ἐν τῷ γνωστῷ τελευταία ἡ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ ἰδέα καὶ μόγις ὁρᾶσθαι͵ ὀφθεῖσα δὲ συλλογιστέα εἶναι ὡς ἄρα πᾶσι πάντων αὕτη ὀρθῶν τε καὶ καλῶν αἰτία͵ ἔν τε ὁρατῷ φῶς καὶ τὸν τούτου κύριον τεκοῦσα͵ ἔν τε νοητῷ αὐτὴ κυρία ἀλήθειαν καὶ νοῦν παρασχομένη͵ καὶ ὅτι δεῖ ταύτην ἰδεῖν τὸν μέλλοντα ἐμφρόνως πράξειν ἢ ἰδίᾳ ἢ δημοσίᾳ. Συνοίομαι͵ ἔφη͵ καὶ ἐγώ͵ ὅν γε δὴ τρόπον δύναμαι. Ἴθι τοίνυν͵ ἦν δ΄ ἐγώ͵ καὶ τόδε συνοιήθητι καὶ μὴ θαυμάσῃς ὅτι οἱ ἐνταῦθα ἐλθόντες οὐκ ἐθέλουσιν τὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων πράττειν͵ ἀλλ΄ ἄνω ἀεὶ ἐπείγονται αὐτῶν αἱ ψυχαὶ διατρίβειν· εἰκὸς γάρ που οὕτως͵ εἴπερ αὖ κατὰ τὴν προειρημένην εἰκόνα τοῦτ΄ ἔχει. Εἰκὸς μέντοι͵ ἔφη.

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Reference address : https://ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/ancient-greece/plato-paideia-cave.asp?pg=7