batch.motif.greek-plato-republic-jowett-gutenberg-l23653-l23817
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-plato-republic-jowett-gutenberg-l23653-l23817
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
passage_locator:
label: BOOK VII. / BOOK VIII. / BOOK IX. / BOOK X.; lines 23653-23817
start: '23653'
end: '23817'
translation: The Republic
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: 'Socrates argues that measuring, numbering, weighing, calculation, and
reason correct misleading appearances. He distinguishes a rational principle in
the soul from opposed inferior principles. He applies the distinction to grief:
a good man moderates sorrow by law and reason, while another principle inclines
toward lamentation. He concludes that imitative poetry tends to appeal to the
passionate and fitful part of the soul rather than the rational part.'
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Measuring, numbering, weighing, calculation, measure, and weight are described
as helping the human understanding overcome misleading appearances of greater,
less, more, or heavier.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The passage identifies the calculating and rational principle as the part
of the soul that measures and certifies equality, greaterness, or lessness.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: The passage distinguishes a soul-part that trusts measure and calculation
from a soul-part opposed to them.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Painting, drawing, imitation in general, and poetry are discussed as arts
related to appearances, imitation, and faculties within the soul.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: obs:5
text: A good man who loses a son or something dear is said to sorrow but to moderate
his sorrow.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:6
text: The passage says a man may be drawn in two opposite directions toward and
away from the same object, implying two distinct principles in him.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:7
text: Law and reason are said to bid a person to resist suffering with patience
and to take counsel about what has happened.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:8
text: The passage contrasts taking counsel and applying a remedy with crying like
children after a fall.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:9
text: An irrational, useless, and cowardly principle is described as inclining people
toward recollection of troubles and lamentation.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:10
text: The imitative poet who seeks popularity is said to prefer the passionate and
fitful temper over the rational principle in the soul.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: calculating and rational principle in the soul
description: The soul-principle that measures, calculates, certifies, and follows
law and reason.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:8
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: inferior or irrational principle in the soul
description: The soul-principle opposed to measure and calculation, associated with
lamentation and passionate instability.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: good man suffering loss
description: A man who loses a son or other dear thing and moderates his sorrow.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: imitative poet
description: The poet whose imitative art is said to prefer the passionate and fitful
temper when seeking popularity.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: imitative art
description: Painting, drawing, imitation in general, and poetry considered as imitative
arts far removed from truth and associated with inferior soul-principles.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
roles:
- id: role:1
label: rational measurer and counselor
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: This principle measures, calculates, follows law, and takes counsel about
what has happened.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: role:2
label: rebellious lamenting principle
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: This principle is opposed to measure and inclines toward recollection of
troubles and lamentation.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:10
- id: role:3
label: mourner who moderates sorrow
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The good man is described as sorrowing after loss but moderating that sorrow.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:4
label: popular imitator of passion
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The imitative poet who aims at popularity is said to prefer the passionate
and fitful temper.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: role:5
label: inferior imitation
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Imitative art is described as far removed from truth and as an inferior associated
with inferior offspring.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: measure and calculation
literal_form: measuring, numbering, weighing, calculation, measure, and weight
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: sym:2
label: thrown dice
literal_form: dice that have been thrown
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:3
label: healing remedy
literal_form: remedy and healing art applied to what is sickly and fallen
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:4
label: child after a fall
literal_form: children who have had a fall, holding the injured part and howling
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Measure corrects appearance
summary: The passage describes arts of measuring, numbering, and weighing rescuing
understanding from misleading appearances and assigns this work to the rational
principle of the soul.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:2
label: Grief divided between reason and lamentation
summary: A man suffering loss is described as pulled between law and reason, which
counsel patience, and another principle that inclines toward sorrow and lamentation.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: scene:3
label: Imitative poetry favors passion
summary: Imitative art and poetry are said to associate with inferior, non-rational
parts of the soul, and the popular imitative poet is described as preferring the
passionate and fitful temper.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:11
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: divided soul with opposed principles
taxonomy_refs:
- duality
basis: The passage repeatedly distinguishes rational and irrational principles in
the soul and states that being drawn in opposite directions implies two distinct
principles.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:7
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: This is philosophical psychology rather than a narrative mythic episode.
- id: motif:2
label: reasoned wisdom overcoming misleading appearance and grief
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Measure, calculation, law, and reason are presented as guides that correct
appearances and counsel patience and remedial action after misfortune.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:8
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy connection is thematic; the passage does not personify wisdom
as a deity or mythic figure.
- id: motif:3
label: healing of the fallen soul
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The passage uses an image of applying a remedy, raising what is sickly and
fallen, and banishing sorrow by healing art.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The healing language is metaphorical within an ethical argument, not a
literal healing narrative.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 23653-23661
quote_or_summary: The arts of measuring, numbering, and weighing rescue understanding
from apparent greater, less, more, or heavier by calculation, measure, and weight.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 23662-23672
quote_or_summary: The calculating and rational principle in the soul measures and
certifies equality, greaterness, or lessness.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 23673-23688
quote_or_summary: The part of the soul that trusts measure and calculation is called
better; the part opposed to them is called an inferior principle.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 23689-23702
quote_or_summary: Painting, drawing, and imitation in general are described as far
removed from truth and associated with a principle equally removed from reason.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 23703-23722
quote_or_summary: The argument extends the examination from visual imitation to
hearing and poetry, asking whether poetical imitation concerns a good or bad faculty.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 23723-23752
quote_or_summary: A good man who loses a son or another dear thing is said to have
sorrow but to moderate it, especially when seen by others.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 23753-23763
quote_or_summary: A principle of law and reason bids resistance to sorrow while
a feeling of misfortune forces indulgence; opposite directions imply distinct
principles.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 23764-23778
quote_or_summary: Law says patience under suffering is best, impatience gains nothing,
human things are not of serious importance, and grief obstructs what is needed.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 23779-23796
quote_or_summary: After the dice have been thrown, one should order affairs as reason
deems best, not howl like a fallen child, but apply a remedy and healing art to
what is sickly and fallen.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 23797-23807
quote_or_summary: The principle that inclines people to recollect troubles and lament,
never having enough of them, is called irrational, useless, and cowardly.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 23808-23817
quote_or_summary: The rebellious principle supplies varied material for imitation;
the popular imitative poet aims not at the rational principle but prefers the
passionate and fitful temper.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: Extraction is based only on the supplied passage. Motif labels are cautious
because the passage is philosophical dialogue rather than mythic narrative. No
comparison claims were added because the passage itself does not support a specific
cross-text or historical comparison.
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: |-
No available symbol taxonomy refs were applied, since the passage does not mention cave, fire, milk, mountain, serpent, tree, or water.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-plato-republic-jowett-gutenberg__l23653-l23817
passage_sha256=618a002fe95fdd40e3ec804e902ef8abc8c0ae1b797caf19e9c920552d358fe4