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still remains？
I wish that you would tell me。
Str。 The higher ideas； my dear friend； can hardly be set forth
except through the medium of examples； every man seems to know all
things in a dreamy sort of way； and then again to wake up and to
know nothing。
Y。 Soc。 What do you mean？
Str。 I fear that I have been unfortunate in raising a
question about
our experience of knowledge。
Y。 Soc。 Why so？
Str。 Why； because my 〃example〃 requires the assistance of another
example。
Y。 Soc。 Proceed； you need not fear that I shall tire。
Str。 I will proceed； finding； as I do； such a ready
listener in you：
when children are beginning to know their letters…
Y。 Soc。 What are you going to say？
Str。 That they distinguish the several letters well enough in very
short and easy syllables； and are able to tell them correctly。
Y。 Soc。 Certainly。
Str。 Whereas in other syllables they do not recognize them； and
think and speak falsely of them。
Y。 Soc。 Very true。
Str。 Will not the best and easiest way of bringing them to a
knowledge of what they do not as yet know be…
Y。 Soc。 Be what？
Str。 To refer them first of all to cases in which they judge
correctly about the letters in question； and then to compare these
with the cases in which they do not as yet know； and to show
them that
the letters are the same； and have the same character in both
combination； until all cases in which they are right have been
Placed side by side with all cases in which they are wrong。 In this
way they have examples； and are made to learn that each letter in
every combination is always the same and not another； and is always
called by the same name。
Y。 Soc。 Certainly。
Str。 Are not examples formed in this manner？ We take a thing and
compare it with another distinct instance of the same thing； of
which we have a right conception； and out of the comparison there
arises one true notion； which includes both of them。
Y。 Soc。 Exactly。
Str。 Can we wonder； then； that the soul has the same uncertainty
about the alphabet of things； and sometimes and in some cases is
firmly fixed by the truth in each particular； and then； again； in
other cases is altogether at sea； having somehow or other a
correction
of combinations； but when the elements are transferred into the long
and difficult language （syllables） of facts； is again ignorant of
them？
Y。 Soc。 There is nothing wonderful in that。
Str。 Could any one； my friend； who began with false opinion ever
expect to arrive even at a small portion of truth and to attain
wisdom？
Y。 Soc。 Hardly。
Str。 Then you and I will not be far wrong in trying to see the
nature of example in general in a small and particular instance；
afterwards from lesser things we intend to pass to the royal class；
which is the highest form of the same nature； and endeavour to
discover by rules of art what the management of cities is； and then
the dream will become a reality to us。
Y。 Soc。 Very true。
Str。 Then； once more； let us resume the previous argument； and as
there were innumerable rivals of the royal race who claim to have
the care of states； let us part them all off； and leave him alone；
and； as I was saying； a model or example of this process has first
to be framed。
Y。 Soc。 Exactly。
Str。 What model is there which is small； and yet has any analogy
with the political occupation？ Suppose； Socrates； that if we have no
other example at hand； we choose weaving； or； more precisely；
weaving of wool…this will be quite enough； without taking
the whole of
weaving； to illustrate our meaning？
Y。 Soc。 Certainly。
Str。 Why should we not apply to weaving the same processes of
division and subdivision which we have already applied to other
classes； going once more as rapidly as we can through all the steps
until we come to that which is needed for our purpose？
Y。 Soc。 How do you mean？
Str。 I shall reply by actually performing the process。
Y。 Soc。 Very good。
Str。 All things which we make or acquire are either creative or
preventive； of the preventive class are antidotes； divine and human；
and also defences； and defences are either military weapons or
protections； and protections are veils； and also shields against
heat and cold； and shields against heat and cold are shelters and
coverings； and coverings are blankets and garments； and garments are
some of them in one piece； and others of them are made in several
parts； and of these latter some are stitched； others are fastened
and not stitched； and of the not stitched； some are made of
the sinews
of plants； and some of hair； and of these； again； some are cemented
with water and earth； and others are fastened together by
themselves。 And these last defences and coverings which are fastened
together by themselves are called clothes； and the art which
superintends them we may call； from the nature of the operation； the
art of clothing； just as before the art of the Statesman was derived
from the State； and may we not say that the art of weaving； at least
that largest portion of it which was concerned with the making of
clothes； differs only in name from this art of clothing； in the same
way that； in the previous case； the royal science differed from the
political？
Y。 Soc。 Most true。
Str。 In the next place； let us make the reflection； that the art
of weaving clothes； which an incompetent person might fancy to have
been sufficiently described； has been separated off from several
others which are of the same family； but not from the co…operative
arts。
Y。 Soc。 And which are the kindred arts？
Str。 I see that I have not taken you with me。 So I think
that we had
better go backwards； starting from the end。 We just now parted off
from the weaving of clothes； the making of blankets； which
differ from
each other in that one is put under and the other is put around！ and
these are what I termed kindred arts。
Y。 Soc。 I understand。
Str。 And we have subtracted the manufacture of all articles made
of flax and cords； and all that we just now metaphorically termed
the sinews of plants； and we have also separated off the process of
felting and the putting together of materials by stitching
and sewing；
of which the most important part is the cobbler's art。
Y。 Soc。 Precisely。
Str。 Then we separated off the currier's art； which prepared
coverings in entire pieces； and the art of sheltering； and
subtracted the various arts of making water…tight which are employed
in building； and in general in carpentering； and in other crafts；
and all such arts as furnish impediments to thieving and acts of
violence； and are concerned with making the lids of boxes and the
fixing of doors； being divisions of the art of joining； and we also
cut off the manufacture of arms； which is a section of the great and
manifold art of making defences； and we originally began by parting
off the whole of the magic art which is concerned with antidoter；
and have left； as would appear； the very art of which we were in
search； the art of protection again