The Republic — Page 6

English → Fr INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS. Level 9/10

And many of the latest conceptions of modern thinkers and statesmen, such as the unity of knowledge, the reign of law, and the equality of the sexes, have been anticipated in a dream by him.

Et beaucoup des conceptions les plus récentes des penseurs et hommes d'État modernes, telles que l'unité du savoir, le règne de la loi et l'égalité des sexes, ont été anticipées en rêve par lui.

The argument of the Republic is the search after Justice, the nature of which is first hinted at by Cephalus, the just and blameless old man—then discussed on the basis of proverbial morality by Socrates and Polemarchus—then caricatured by Thrasymachus and partially explained by Socrates—reduced to an abstraction by Glaucon and Adeimantus, and having become invisible in the individual reappears at length in the ideal State which is constructed by Socrates.

L'argument de la République est la recherche de la Justice, dont la nature est d'abord suggérée par Céphale, le vieil homme juste et irréprochable — puis débattue sur la base de la morale proverbiale par Socrate et Polémarque — puis caricaturée par Thrasymaque et partiellement expliquée par Socrate — réduite à une abstraction par Glaucon et Adimante, et, étant devenue invisible dans l'individu, réapparaît enfin dans l'État idéal que construit Socrate.

The first care of the rulers is to be education, of which an outline is drawn after the old Hellenic model, providing only for an improved religion and morality, and more simplicity in music and gymnastic, a manlier strain of poetry, and greater harmony of the individual and the State.

Le premier souci des dirigeants doit être l'éducation, dont les grandes lignes sont tracées d'après l'ancien modèle hellénique, ne prévoyant qu'une religion et une morale améliorées, plus de simplicité dans la musique et la gymnastique, un registre poétique plus viril, et une plus grande harmonie entre l'individu et l'État.

We are thus led on to the conception of a higher State, in which 'no man calls anything his own,' and in which there is neither 'marrying nor giving in marriage,' and 'kings are philosophers' and 'philosophers are kings;' and there is another and higher education, intellectual as well as moral and religious, of science as well as of art, and not of youth only but of the whole of life.

Nous sommes ainsi conduits à la conception d'un État supérieur, dans lequel « nul n'appelle quoi que ce soit le sien », et dans lequel il n'y a ni « mariage ni don en mariage », et où « les rois sont philosophes » et « les philosophes sont rois » ; et il existe une autre éducation, plus haute, intellectuelle autant que morale et religieuse, des sciences autant que des arts, et non pas seulement de la jeunesse, mais de la vie tout entière.

Such a State is hardly to be realized in this world and quickly degenerates.

Un tel État ne peut guère être réalisé en ce monde et dégénère rapidement.

Vocabulary

beaucoup: Meaning 'a lot' or 'much', indicating large quantity.
conceptions: Ideas or concepts formed in the mind.
plus: Meaning 'more' or 'most', used in comparisons.
récentes: Feminine plural adjective meaning 'recent' or 'latest'.
penseurs: Thinkers or intellectuals who develop philosophical ideas.
hommes: Men or human beings in general.
État: The state or government as a political entity.
modernes: Adjective meaning 'modern' or 'contemporary'.
telles: Feminine plural meaning 'such' or 'like these'.
unité: Unity or oneness; state of being unified.
savoir: Knowledge or learning; to know something intellectually.
règne: Reign or rule; dominance of a principle or authority.
loi: Law; a rule established by authority or custom.
égalité: Equality; the state of being equal in rights.
sexes: The sexes; referring to male and female categories.
anticipées: Anticipated or foreseen; predicted before occurrence.
rêve: Dream; a vision or ideal imagined in the mind.
argument: An argument or reasoning presented to support a claim.
République: Republic; a state governed by elected representatives.
recherche: Research or search; an investigation into a topic.
Justice: Justice; the principle of fairness and moral rightness.
dont: Relative pronoun meaning 'whose', 'of which', or 'about which'.
nature: Nature or essence; the fundamental quality of something.
abord: First impression or approach; 'd'abord' means 'first of all'.
suggérée: Suggested or implied; proposed as a possibility.
vieil: Old; masculine adjective used before a vowel sound.
homme: Man; an adult male human being.
juste: Just or fair; morally right and equitable.
irréprochable: Irreproachable; beyond criticism, perfectly moral and blameless.
puis: Then or next; indicating sequence of events.
débattue: Debated or discussed thoroughly from multiple perspectives.
base: Base or foundation; the underlying principle of something.
morale: Moral or ethical; relating to principles of right conduct.
proverbiale: Proverbial; relating to or resembling a common saying.
caricaturée: Caricatured or exaggerated; distorted for comic or critical effect.
partiellement: Partially; only in part, not completely or fully.
expliquée: Explained or clarified; made understandable through description.
réduite: Reduced or simplified; brought down to a smaller form.
abstraction: Abstraction; a general concept removed from concrete reality.
étant: Present participle of 'être', meaning 'being'.
devenue: Become; feminine past participle of 'devenir'.
invisible: Invisible; not able to be seen or perceived.
individu: Individual; a single human being as distinct entity.
réapparaît: Reappears; comes back into view or existence again.
enfin: Finally or at last; after a long wait or process.
idéal: Ideal; a perfect standard or model to aspire to.
construit: Constructed or built; created through deliberate effort.
premier: First or primary; most important or coming before others.
souci: Concern or worry; something that preoccupies the mind.
dirigeants: Leaders or rulers; those who govern or direct others.
doit: Must or should; third person singular of 'devoir'.
être: To be; the fundamental verb of existence and identity.
éducation: Education; the process of teaching and learning.
grandes: Large or great; feminine plural of 'grand'.
lignes: Lines or outlines; the main features of a plan.
tracées: Traced or outlined; drawn or described in broad strokes.
après: After or following; indicating subsequent time or order.
ancien: Ancient or former; relating to old or past times.
modèle: Model or example; a pattern to be followed or imitated.
hellénique: Hellenic; relating to ancient Greek culture and civilization.
prévoyant: Foreseeing or providing for; planning ahead carefully.
religion: Religion; a system of belief and worship practices.
améliorées: Improved or enhanced; made better than before.
simplicité: Simplicity; the quality of being simple and uncomplicated.
musique: Music; the art of combining sounds rhythmically and harmoniously.
gymnastique: Gymnastics or physical exercise; training of the body.
registre: Register or range; a style or level of expression.
poétique: Poetic; relating to poetry or having poetic qualities.
viril: Virile or manly; characterized by masculine strength and vigor.
grande: Great or large; feminine form of 'grand'.
harmonie: Harmony; a pleasing combination of elements working together.
entre: Preposition meaning 'between' or 'among'.
ainsi: Thus or in this way; indicating a logical consequence.
conduits: Led or guided; brought to a conclusion or place.
conception: Conception or idea; a mental understanding of something.
supérieur: Superior or higher; of greater quality or rank.
lequel: Which or whom; relative pronoun referring to a specific antecedent.
nul: No one or none; indicating absence of any person.
appelle: Calls or names; third person singular of 'appeler'.
quoi: What; interrogative or relative pronoun referring to things.
soit: Be; subjunctive form of 'être', used in expressions.
sien: His own or one's own; possessive pronoun.
y: There; adverbial pronoun referring to a place or thing.
ni: Neither nor; negative conjunction linking two alternatives.
mariage: Marriage; the legal union of two people.
don: Gift or talent; something given freely or naturally possessed.
où: Where or when; relative or interrogative adverb of place.
rois: Kings; male monarchs who rule over a kingdom.
philosophes: Philosophers; thinkers who study fundamental questions of existence.
existe: Exists; third person singular of 'exister', meaning 'to exist'.
autre: Other or another; referring to a different or additional thing.
haute: High or lofty; feminine form of 'haut'.
intellectuelle: Intellectual; relating to the intellect and mental pursuits.
autant: As much or as many; indicating equal quantity or degree.
religieuse: Religious; relating to religion or spiritual beliefs.
sciences: Sciences; systematic studies of the natural or social world.
arts: Arts; creative activities such as painting, music, or literature.
seulement: Only or merely; restricting to a single thing or group.
jeunesse: Youth; the period of being young or young people collectively.
vie: Life; the state of living or one's existence.
tout: All or everything; indicating totality or completeness.
entière: Entire or whole; complete without any part missing.
tel: Such or like; indicating a particular kind or degree.
peut: Can or may; third person singular of 'pouvoir'.
guère: Hardly or scarcely; used with 'ne' for near negation.
réalisé: Realized or achieved; brought into actual existence.
monde: World or society; the earth or human community.
dégénère: Degenerates or declines; deteriorates from a higher standard.
rapidement: Rapidly or quickly; happening at a fast pace.

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