Page:History of Greece Vol VIII.djvu/405

 KALLIKLES. 3B3 and sentiments common to every man in Greece, and shared even by the most estimable Athenians, Perikles, Nikias, and Aristokrates ; L while Sokrates prides himself on standing abso- lutely alone, and having no support except from his irresistible dialectics, whereby he is sure of extorting reluctant admission from his adversary. How far Sokrates may be right, I do not now inquire : it is sufficient that Polus, standing as he does amidst company at once so numerous and so irreproachable, cannot be fairly denounced as a poisoner of the youthful mind. Polus presently hands over the dialogue to Kallikles, who is here represented, doubtless, as laying down doctrines openly and avowedly anti-social. He distinguishes between the law of na- ture and the law both written and unwritten, for the Greek word substantially includes both of society. According to the law of nature, Kallikles says, the strong man the better or more capable man puts forth his strength to the full for his own advantage, without 1'init or restraint ; overcomes the resist- ance which weaker mon are able to offer ; and seizes for himself as much as he pleases of the matter of enjoyment. He has no occasion to restrain any of his appetites or desires ; the more numerous and pressing they are, so much the better for him, since his power affords him the means of satiating them all. The many, who have the misfortune to be weak, must be content with that which he leaves them, and submit to it as best they can. This, Kallikles says, is what actually happens in a state of nature ; this is what is accounted just, as is evident by the practice of independent communities, not included in one common political society, towards each other ; this is justice, by nature, or according to the law of nature. But when men come into society, all this is reversed. The majority of individuals know very well that they are weak, and that their only chance of security or 1 Plato, Gorgias, c. 27, p. 472, A. Kal vvv (say Sokrates) Kept uv oi> ?,} b'Xlyov aoi iru.v~f avfupijaovat ravTO. 'At?//vatot Kal !-ivoi fiaprvpfjoov- ai ffo/, iiiv [*ev /3ovA/, Nt/a'af 6 XiKjjpurov Kal oi aJcA^oi fter 3 avrov iiiv 6e 3ov?.y, 'ptaroKpuTrjf & 2f?.?uou iiiv Je /JouAy, q TleptKXeovf oXi) oiitia, }) uM.i) avyyeveia, j/vnva u.v ftovZy -uv Ivdade JxAefaatfai. 'A/I/,' i y u ao i ilf uv ov% dfio Aoyu 'E/a* de uv pi) oe avrbv Iva dvra puprvpa 7rapd(T^w/zai oftohoyovvra irepl uv Acyu, ovd'n oljiai u^tov Aoyct uoi Trentpavdai tttpl uv uv rjfuv 6 /loj'Of ^.