library_books Bookstacks

Section 316

COMRADE. Indeed, Socrates, that is exactly what I mean. If you look at the different nations, you see that they hold completely different things to be lawful and unlawful. Even among ourselves, the laws change. What was considered lawful in the past is often unlawful now, and what is lawful now may be unlawful in the future. How can law be the discovery of what is, when it is so variable?

SOCRATES. Because, my good friend, while the things themselves—the realities—do not change, human beings often fail to discover them accurately. Let me ask you: in medicine, do the writings of the doctors concerning health differ, or are the true rules of health the same for all?

COMRADE. The true rules of health are the same for all.

SOCRATES. And those who know these rules are the doctors?

COMRADE. Yes.

SOCRATES. And do the doctors write down different laws about health, or do they agree upon the principles that are truly healthy?

COMRADE. They agree.

SOCRATES. And in farming, do the farmers agree upon the rules for planting and harvesting?

COMRADE. Yes.

SOCRATES. And the writings of these experts—the doctors and the farmers—are their laws concerning their respective arts?

COMRADE. Exactly.

SOCRATES. So whose writings are the laws concerning the administration of the state and the management of people? Are they not the writings of those who know how to rule?

COMRADE. They are.

SOCRATES. And who knows how to rule? Are they not the statesmen and the kings?

COMRADE. Yes.

SOCRATES. So these so-called laws are the writings of the kings and good men. And just as in medicine or farming, those who possess knowledge do not write one thing today and another tomorrow about the same subjects, nor do they write differently from other experts. They discover what is, and they write it down as a permanent law.