Ascending to the Upper World: Excerpt from Book VII of “The Republic” by Plato (vegetarian), Part 2 of 2

One of Plato’s most famous and influential philosophical works is titled “The Republic.” It features valuable dialogues between Socratres and others mainly on the topic of justice, and also the philosopher’s journey to acquiring higher knowledge. We now continue with our selection from Socrates’ dialogue with Glaucon from “The Republic,” which further elaborates the allegory of the cave. “And whereas the other so-called virtues of the soul seem to be akin to bodily qualities, for even when they are not originally innate they can be implanted later by habit and exercise, the virtue of wisdom more than anything else contains a Divine element which always remains, and by this conversion is rendered useful and profitable; or, on the other hand, hurtful and useless. Then, I said, the business of us who are the founders of the State will be to compel the best minds to attain that knowledge which we have already shown to be the greatest of all – they must continue to ascend until they arrive at the good; but when they have ascended and seen enough we must not allow them to do as they do now.”