batch.motif.greek-plato-republic-jowett-gutenberg-l17902-l18011
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-plato-republic-jowett-gutenberg-l17902-l18011
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
passage_locator:
label: BOOK III. / BOOK IV. / BOOK V. / BOOK VI.; lines 17902-18011
start: '17902'
end: '18011'
translation: The Republic
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: The speaker describes the few genuine followers of philosophy who remain
uncorrupted amid hostile civic life, compares their situation to a person among
wild beasts or taking shelter from a storm, argues that existing governments deform
philosophic nature, and proposes that philosophy should be pursued through a properly
ordered lifelong education within a suitable state.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The speaker says that worthy disciples of philosophy form only a small remnant,
including exiles, lofty souls in mean cities, people who leave despised arts,
and those kept from politics by circumstances such as ill-health.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The speaker mentions his own internal sign as a rare monitor.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: The small class has experienced philosophy as sweet and blessed and has observed
the madness of the multitude.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: The just philosopher is compared to a person fallen among wild beasts who
neither joins their wrongdoing nor can resist them alone.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: The just philosopher is also compared to one who shelters behind a wall during
a storm of dust and sleet.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:6
text: The speaker says the philosopher in an unsuitable society may live privately,
remain pure from injustice, and depart with peace, goodwill, and bright hopes.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:7
text: Adeimantus says such a person will have done a great work before departing;
the speaker replies that the greatest work requires finding a suitable state.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:8
text: The speaker states that no existing government is adapted to the philosophic
nature.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:9
text: The philosophic nature in existing governments is compared to exotic seed
planted in foreign soil, where it becomes denaturalized and loses its original
character.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:10
text: The speaker says philosophy would appear divine if it found a state matching
her own perfection.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:11
text: The speaker says the remaining question is how the study of philosophy can
be ordered so as not to ruin the state.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:12
text: The speaker criticizes the current practice in which young students treat
philosophy as an incidental pursuit and often withdraw when they approach dialectic.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:13
text: The speaker says old practitioners of this sort are extinguished more truly
than Heraclitus’ sun, which is described as extinguished each evening and relighted
each morning.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:14
text: 'The speaker proposes the opposite course: age-appropriate philosophy in childhood
and youth, bodily training for service to philosophy, increasing gymnastics of
the soul as intellect matures, and freer philosophical life after civic and military
duties have passed.'
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:15
text: The proposed life is intended to be happy here and crowned with similar happiness
in another life.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: speaker or narrator
description: The person addressing Adeimantus, describing philosophy, philosophers,
governments, and education.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Adeimantus
description: The interlocutor who agrees and asks which government is adapted to
philosophy.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: worthy disciples of philosophy
description: A small remnant of people who remain devoted to philosophy despite
corruption or unsuitable civic circumstances.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: philosophy
description: Personified as a female possession or object of devotion, described
as sweet, blessed, and in truth divine when matched with a suitable state.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: the multitude or rest of mankind
description: People described as mad, wicked, or like fierce wild beasts in relation
to the solitary just philosopher.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: existing governments or states
description: Governments said not to be worthy of or adapted to the philosophic
nature.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: suitable state
description: A state in which philosophy and philosophic nature could grow properly
and save the country as well as the philosopher.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Theages
description: A named example whose ill-health kept him from politics and whose circumstances
restrained him.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Heraclitus
description: Named in connection with a saying that the sun is extinguished in the
evening and relighted in the morning.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
roles:
- id: role:1
label: teacher-speaker
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The speaker explains causes, answers questions, and prescribes the ordering
of philosophical study.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: role:2
label: possessor of rare internal monitor
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The speaker mentions his own internal sign as a rare monitor.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: interlocutor
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Adeimantus replies, asks questions, and prompts further explanation.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:4
label: uncorrupted philosophical remnant
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The passage calls them a small class or remnant devoted to philosophy and
separated from common corruption.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:5
label: personified wisdom object
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Philosophy is personified as 'her' and described as sweet, blessed, and divine.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: role:6
label: corrupt surrounding society
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The multitude is described as mad, wicked, and comparable to wild beasts
around the just person.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:7
label: deforming civic environment
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Existing governments are said to warp and estrange the philosophic nature.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:8
label: proper civic environment for philosophy
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: A suitable state would allow greater growth and make the philosopher a saviour
of country and self.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:9
label: example of restraint from politics
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Theages is named as one whose ill-health kept him away from politics.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:10
label: source of cited sun saying
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Heraclitus is cited for the statement about the sun being extinguished and
relighted.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: bridle of restraint
literal_form: Theages’ bridle
associated_figures:
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: wild beasts
literal_form: wild beasts surrounding a fallen man
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:3
label: storm shelter
literal_form: storm of dust and sleet, driving wind, and shelter of a wall
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:4
label: exotic seed in foreign soil
literal_form: exotic seed sown in a foreign land and overpowered by new soil
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:5
label: extinguished and relighted sun
literal_form: Heraclitus’ sun extinguished every evening and relighted every morning
associated_figures:
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:6
label: gymnastics of the soul
literal_form: increased gymnastics of the soul as intellect matures
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:7
label: crown of happiness
literal_form: to crown this life with a similar happiness in another
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Small remnant of philosophers
summary: The speaker identifies the few people who remain devoted to philosophy
despite exile, poor civic conditions, departure from other arts, bodily limitation,
or a rare internal sign.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Just philosopher amid corrupt society
summary: The philosopher who has tasted philosophy and seen the multitude’s madness
avoids collective wrongdoing, cannot reform society alone, shelters himself, and
seeks to depart in peace and hope.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Need for suitable state
summary: Adeimantus and the speaker agree that the philosopher does a great work
privately, but the greatest work requires a suitable state in which he can save
both country and self.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:7
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Philosophic nature deformed by existing governments
summary: The speaker says existing governments are not adapted to philosophy and
compares philosophic nature in them to an exotic seed losing its character in
foreign soil.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:5
label: Reordering the study of philosophy
summary: The speaker poses the problem of ordering philosophy so it does not ruin
the state, criticizes current superficial study, and proposes a lifelong sequence
of bodily and intellectual preparation leading to later freedom and happiness.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Wisdom preserved by a small remnant
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: The passage describes only a small class as true disciples of philosophy
who remain devoted while the wider multitude and political life are corrupting.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
confidence: high
cautions: This is a philosophical pattern within the passage rather than a narrative
myth episode.
- id: motif:2
label: Solitary just person withdrawing from corrupt society
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: The just philosopher avoids joining wrongdoing, cannot oppose the multitude
alone, shelters himself, and aims to live free from unrighteousness.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage frames withdrawal as a civic-philosophical judgment, not as
a literal exile journey.
- id: motif:3
label: True nature requiring proper soil or polity
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: The philosophic nature is compared to an exotic seed distorted by foreign
soil, while a suitable state would allow larger growth.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The seed image is metaphorical and not linked in the passage to a named
mythic plant or world-tree pattern.
- id: motif:4
label: Lifelong initiation into wisdom
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
- initiation
basis: The speaker prescribes age-appropriate philosophical education, bodily preparation,
increasing exercise of the soul, and later freedom oriented toward happiness in
this life and another.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage gives an educational sequence; the initiation label is only
a cautious functional fit.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 17902-17914
quote_or_summary: The speaker describes a small remnant of genuine disciples of
philosophy, names examples of people kept from corruption or politics, and mentions
a rare internal sign or monitor.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 17915-17931
quote_or_summary: The small class has tasted philosophy and seen the madness of
the multitude; the just person is compared to someone among wild beasts and to
one sheltering behind a wall in a storm.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 17932-17938
quote_or_summary: Adeimantus says the private just philosopher has done a great
work; the speaker says the greatest work requires a suitable state, where he can
save country and self.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 17939-17958
quote_or_summary: No existing government is adapted to philosophic nature; philosophy
is compared to exotic seed in foreign soil, and would be seen as divine if matched
with a suitable state.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 17959-17976
quote_or_summary: The speaker says a living authority is needed in the state and
raises the difficult question of how philosophy should be ordered so as not to
ruin the state.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 17977-17994
quote_or_summary: The speaker criticizes those who study philosophy only when young
and superficially; they leave at dialectic and in old age are compared to a sun
extinguished without relighting.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 17995-18011
quote_or_summary: 'The speaker proposes age-suited education: early philosophy,
bodily training, later gymnastics of the soul, and freedom after civic and military
duties, ending in happiness here and another life.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal extraction is supported by the supplied passage. Motif candidates
are cautious because the passage is philosophical argument with metaphors rather
than a mythic narrative. No external comparison claims were added.
reviewer_status:
status: needs_review
reviewer: ''
reviewed_at: ''
notes: Machine-generated draft from OpenAI Batch; not human-reviewed.
extracted_by: openai_batch:gpt-5.5
extracted_at: '2026-04-28'
notes: |-
Used only the supplied passage and metadata. Taxonomy references were limited to available refs and applied conservatively.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-plato-republic-jowett-gutenberg__l17902-l18011
passage_sha256=df73713da627c3b82cf89010842a9c5a848c2ae1c882e6de94b107c048d0fcfc