The Republic — Page 14
To Plato himself, the enquiry 'what was the intention of the writer,' or 'what was the principal argument of the Republic' would have been hardly intelligible, and therefore had better be at once dismissed (cp. the Introduction to the Phaedrus).
Para o próprio Platão, a indagação 'qual era a intenção do autor' ou 'qual era o argumento principal da República' teria sido dificilmente inteligível, e portanto é melhor que seja de uma vez descartada (cf. a Introdução ao Fedro).
Is not the Republic the vehicle of three or four great truths which, to Plato's own mind, are most naturally represented in the form of the State?
Não é a República o veículo de três ou quatro grandes verdades que, para a própria mente de Platão, são representadas de forma mais natural na forma do Estado?
Just as in the Jewish prophets the reign of Messiah, or 'the day of the Lord,' or the suffering Servant or people of God, or the 'Sun of righteousness with healing in his wings' only convey, to us at least, their great spiritual ideals, so through the Greek State Plato reveals to us his own thoughts about divine perfection, which is the idea of good—like the sun in the visible world;—about human perfection, which is justice—about education beginning in youth and continuing in later years—about poets and sophists and tyrants who are the false teachers and evil rulers of mankind—about 'the world' which is the embodiment of them—about a kingdom which exists nowhere upon earth but is laid up in heaven to be the pattern and rule of human life.
Assim como nos profetas judeus o reinado do Messias, ou 'o dia do Senhor', ou o Servo sofredor ou povo de Deus, ou o 'Sol da justiça com cura em suas asas' apenas transmitem, pelo menos para nós, seus grandes ideais espirituais, assim também através do Estado grego Platão nos revela seus próprios pensamentos sobre a perfeição divina, que é a ideia do bem — como o sol no mundo visível; — sobre a perfeição humana, que é a justiça — sobre a educação que começa na juventude e continua nos anos posteriores — sobre poetas e sofistas e tiranos que são os falsos mestres e maus governantes da humanidade — sobre 'o mundo' que é a personificação deles — sobre um reino que não existe em lugar algum sobre a terra, mas está guardado no céu para ser o modelo e a regra da vida humana.
No such inspired creation is at unity with itself, any more than the clouds of heaven when the sun pierces through them.
Nenhuma criação assim inspirada está em unidade consigo mesma, assim como tampouco estão as nuvens do céu quando o sol as atravessa.
Every shade of light and dark, of truth, and of fiction which is the veil of truth, is allowable in a work of philosophical imagination.
Cada matiz de luz e sombra, de verdade e de ficção que é o véu da verdade, é admissível numa obra de imaginação filosófica.
Vocabulary
- Para
- Preposition meaning 'for' or 'to' in Portuguese
- o
- Masculine singular definite article meaning 'the'
- próprio
- Adjective meaning 'own,' 'proper,' or 'itself'
- Platão
- Portuguese name for the ancient Greek philosopher Plato
- a
- Feminine singular definite article meaning 'the'
- indagação
- Noun meaning inquiry, investigation, or questioning
- qual
- Pronoun or adjective meaning 'which' or 'what'
- era
- Past tense of 'ser,' meaning 'was' or 'were'
- intenção
- Noun meaning intention, purpose, or aim
- do
- Contraction of 'de' and 'o,' meaning 'of the'
- autor
- Noun meaning author or writer of a work
- ou
- Conjunction meaning 'or,' used to present alternatives
- argumento
- Noun meaning argument, reasoning, or main point
- principal
- Adjective meaning main, principal, or most important
- da
- Contraction of 'de' and 'a,' meaning 'of the' (feminine)
- República
- Noun meaning republic; title of Plato's famous dialogue
- teria
- Conditional form of 'ter,' meaning 'would have'
- sido
- Past participle of 'ser,' meaning 'been'
- dificilmente
- Adverb meaning hardly, scarcely, or with great difficulty
- inteligível
- Adjective meaning intelligible, understandable, or comprehensible
- e
- Conjunction meaning 'and,' connecting words or clauses
- portanto
- Adverb meaning therefore, thus, or consequently
- é
- Third person singular present of 'ser,' meaning 'is'
- melhor
- Adjective or adverb meaning better or best
- que
- Conjunction or pronoun meaning 'that,' 'which,' or 'than'
- seja
- Subjunctive form of 'ser,' meaning 'be' or 'is'
- de
- Preposition meaning 'of,' 'from,' or 'about'
- uma
- Feminine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'one'
- vez
- Noun meaning time, occasion, or instance
- descartada
- Past participle meaning discarded, dismissed, or set aside
- Introdução
- Noun meaning introduction or opening section of a work
- ao
- Contraction of 'a' and 'o,' meaning 'to the' (masculine)
- Não
- Adverb or interjection meaning 'no' or 'not'
- veículo
- Noun meaning vehicle or medium for conveying something
- três
- Number meaning three, the integer between two and four
- quatro
- Number meaning four, the integer between three and five
- grandes
- Adjective meaning great, large, or significant in magnitude
- verdades
- Plural noun meaning truths or fundamental true statements
- para
- Preposition meaning 'for,' 'to,' or 'toward'
- própria
- Feminine adjective meaning own, proper, or characteristic
- mente
- Noun meaning mind, intellect, or mental faculty
- são
- Third person plural of 'ser,' meaning 'are'
- representadas
- Past participle meaning represented, depicted, or portrayed
- forma
- Noun meaning form, shape, manner, or way
- mais
- Adverb meaning more or most, indicating greater degree
- natural
- Adjective meaning natural, innate, or occurring in nature
- na
- Contraction of 'em' and 'a,' meaning 'in the' (feminine)
- Estado
- Noun meaning state, nation, or political entity
- Assim
- Adverb meaning thus, so, in this way, or likewise
- como
- Conjunction or adverb meaning 'as,' 'like,' or 'how'
- nos
- Contraction of 'em' and 'os,' meaning 'in the' (plural)
- profetas
- Plural noun meaning prophets, religious figures who foretell
- judeus
- Plural noun meaning Jews or Jewish people
- reinado
- Noun meaning reign or the period of a ruler's rule
- Messias
- Noun meaning Messiah, the anticipated savior or anointed one
- dia
- Noun meaning day, a 24-hour period
- Senhor
- Noun meaning Lord, sir, or a respectful title for God
- Servo
- Noun meaning servant, one who serves another
- sofredor
- Noun or adjective meaning sufferer or one who endures pain
- povo
- Noun meaning people, nation, or common folk
- Deus
- Noun meaning God, the supreme divine being
- Sol
- Noun meaning Sun, the star at the center of our solar system
- justiça
- Noun meaning justice, fairness, or the legal system
- com
- Preposition meaning 'with,' indicating accompaniment or means
- cura
- Noun meaning cure, healing, or treatment of illness
- em
- Preposition meaning 'in,' 'at,' or 'on'
- suas
- Feminine plural possessive pronoun meaning 'their' or 'her/his'
- asas
- Plural noun meaning wings, as of a bird or angel
- apenas
- Adverb meaning only, just, or merely
- transmitem
- Verb meaning they transmit, convey, or pass on
- pelo
- Contraction of 'por' and 'o,' meaning 'through the' (masculine)
- menos
- Adverb meaning less or fewer, indicating smaller quantity
- nós
- First person plural pronoun meaning 'we' or 'us'
- seus
- Masculine plural possessive pronoun meaning 'their' or 'his/her'
- ideais
- Plural noun meaning ideals, high principles, or aspirations
- espirituais
- Adjective meaning spiritual, relating to the spirit or soul
- assim
- Adverb meaning thus, so, or in this manner
- também
- Adverb meaning also, too, or as well
- através
- Preposition meaning through, across, or by means of
- grego
- Adjective or noun meaning Greek, relating to Greece
- revela
- Verb meaning reveals, discloses, or makes something known
- próprios
- Masculine plural adjective meaning own, very own, or proper
- pensamentos
- Plural noun meaning thoughts, ideas, or reflections
- sobre
- Preposition meaning about, on, or concerning a subject
- perfeição
- Noun meaning perfection, the state of being flawless
- divina
- Feminine adjective meaning divine, relating to God or deity
- ideia
- Noun meaning idea, concept, or mental representation
- bem
- Noun or adverb meaning good, well, or goodness
- sol
- Noun meaning sun, the star providing light and heat
- no
- Contraction of 'em' and 'o,' meaning 'in the' (masculine)
- mundo
- Noun meaning world, the earth or universe
- visível
- Adjective meaning visible, able to be seen or perceived
- humana
- Feminine adjective meaning human, relating to humanity
- educação
- Noun meaning education, the process of learning and teaching
- começa
- Verb meaning begins or starts, third person singular present
- juventude
- Noun meaning youth or the period of being young
- continua
- Verb meaning continues or goes on, third person singular present
- anos
- Plural noun meaning years, units of time
- posteriores
- Adjective meaning later, subsequent, or following in time
- poetas
- Plural noun meaning poets, writers of poetry
- sofistas
- Plural noun meaning sophists, ancient Greek itinerant teachers
- tiranos
- Plural noun meaning tyrants, rulers who abuse their power
- os
- Masculine plural definite article meaning 'the'
- falsos
- Masculine plural adjective meaning false, untrue, or deceitful
- mestres
- Plural noun meaning masters, teachers, or skilled instructors
- maus
- Masculine plural adjective meaning bad, evil, or wicked
- governantes
- Plural noun meaning rulers, governors, or those who govern
- humanidade
- Noun meaning humanity, humankind, or the human race
- personificação
- Noun meaning personification, giving human traits to abstractions
- deles
- Possessive pronoun meaning 'of them' or 'their' (masculine)
- um
- Masculine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'one'
- reino
- Noun meaning kingdom, realm, or domain of a ruler
- não
- Adverb meaning 'not' or 'no,' expressing negation
- existe
- Verb meaning exists or is present, third person singular
- lugar
- Noun meaning place, location, or spot
- algum
- Indefinite adjective meaning some, any, or a certain
- terra
- Noun meaning earth, land, ground, or soil
- mas
- Conjunction meaning but, however, indicating contrast
- está
- Third person singular present of 'estar,' meaning 'is'
- guardado
- Past participle meaning kept, guarded, or stored away
- céu
- Noun meaning sky or heaven, the expanse above earth
- ser
- Infinitive verb meaning to be; also noun meaning being
- modelo
- Noun meaning model, example, or pattern to follow
- regra
- Noun meaning rule, regulation, or guiding principle
- vida
- Noun meaning life, existence, or way of living
- Nenhuma
- Feminine pronoun or adjective meaning none, no, or not any
- criação
- Noun meaning creation, the act of making something new
- inspirada
- Feminine past participle meaning inspired or filled with creativity
- unidade
- Noun meaning unity, oneness, or state of being unified
- consigo
- Reflexive pronoun meaning with oneself or with itself
- mesma
- Feminine pronoun meaning same, itself, or very same
- tampouco
- Adverb meaning neither, nor, or not either
- estão
- Third person plural present of 'estar,' meaning 'are'
- as
- Feminine plural definite article meaning 'the'
- nuvens
- Plural noun meaning clouds, masses of water vapor in sky
- quando
- Conjunction or adverb meaning when, at the time that
- atravessa
- Verb meaning crosses, traverses, or passes through something
- Cada
- Adjective meaning each or every, referring to individual elements
- matiz
- Noun meaning hue, shade, or subtle variation in color
- luz
- Noun meaning light, illumination, or brightness
- sombra
- Noun meaning shadow, shade, or darkness
- verdade
- Noun meaning truth, reality, or factual accuracy
- ficção
- Noun meaning fiction, invented narrative, or literary imagination
- véu
- Noun meaning veil, a covering that conceals or obscures
- admissível
- Adjective meaning admissible, acceptable, or allowable
- numa
- Contraction of 'em' and 'uma,' meaning 'in a' (feminine)
- obra
- Noun meaning work, literary or artistic creation or piece
- imaginação
- Noun meaning imagination, the faculty of forming mental images
- filosófica
- Feminine adjective meaning philosophical, relating to philosophy
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