Dear Editor
In the course of reading my way through the complete works of Plato, as you do – possibly for the last time in my case, since I’m nearly seventy-six – I came upon this little gem. I felt the urge to share it with TCW readers as I thought it might strike a chord. Plato is using the Persian empire as an example, but feel free to apply it to any state of your choice.
‘It was our investigation of the polity of the Persians that caused us to discuss these matters at greater length. We find that they grew still worse, the reason being, as we say, that by robbing the commons unduly of their liberty and introducing despotism in excess, they destroyed in the State the bonds of friendliness and fellowship. And when these are destroyed, the policy of the rulers no longer consults for the good of the subjects and the commons, but solely for the maintenance of their own power; if they think that it will profit them in the least degree, they are ready at any time to overturn States and to overturn and burn up friendly nations; and thus they both hate and are hated with a fierce and ruthless hatred.
‘And when they come to need the commons, to fight in their support, they find in them no patriotism or readiness to endanger their lives in battle; so that, although they possess countless myriads of men, they are all useless for war, and they hire soldiers from abroad as though they were short of men, and imagine that their safety will be secured by hirelings and aliens. And besides all this, they inevitably display their ignorance, inasmuch as by their acts they declare that the things reputed to be honourable and noble in a State are never anything but dross compared to silver and gold . . .
‘So let this be the conclusion of our account of the Persian empire, and how its present evil administration is due to excess of slavery and of despotism.’
Laws III 697C-698A (translation taken from R G Bury’s Loeb edition; quicker than producing one myself)
It’s worth bearing in mind that the Laws is reckoned to be the final work of this ageing fascist, and the one most notorious for its bigoted, anti-democratic bias. But see what you think.
Margaret Curtis
Greater Manchester
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