Republic 583b-587b

1. Hunger is an empty state of the body, ignorance an empty state of the soul.

2. If hunger is an empty state of the body, then eating is a filling up of the body with food.

3. If ignorance is an empty state of the soul, then learning is a filling up of the soul with knowledge.

So, 4. Eating is a filling up of the body with food, and learning is a filling up of

the soul with knowledge. [From 1, 2, 3]

5. If A is a filling up of B with C, then A is related to C and comes to be in

B.

So, 6. Eating is related to food and comes to be in the body, while learning is

related to knowledge and comes to be in the soul. [From 4, 5]

7. If B is of a certain kind and A is related to B, then A is of that same kind.

8. Food and the body are never the same, mortal (and so less), and false, while knowledge and the soul are always the same, immortal (and so more), and true.

So, 9. Eating is less and false, while learning is more and true. [From 6, 7, 8]

10. If A is related to B and comes to be in C, and A, B, C are all more and

true, while D is related to E and comes to be in F, and D, E, F are all less and false, then A is more and truer than D.

So, 11. Learning is more and truer than eating. [From 6, 8, 9, 10]

12. Whatever is more and filled with things that are more is more filled than

whatever is less and filled with things that are less.

So, 13. A soul that is filled with knowledge is more filled than a body that is filled

with food. [From 8, 12]

14. Pleasure is being filled with what is appropriate to one’s nature.

15. Food and knowledge are appropriate to human nature.

So, 16. The pleasure of learning is more and truer than the pleasure of eating.

[From 4, 11, 14 , 15]

So, 17. Those who pursue knowledge (=aristocrats/philosophers) are more filled

with more and truer pleasure than those who pursue food. [From 13, 16]

18. If X is more filled with more and truer pleasure than Y, then X lives more

pleasantly than Y.

So, 19. Those who pursue knowledge (=aristocrats/philosophers) live more

pleasantly than those who pursue food. [From 18, 19]

Note: What goes for food goes for honor, money, and all objects of base appetites (e.g., drink, sex, power).