batch.motif.greek-plato-republic-jowett-gutenberg-l3115-l3194
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-plato-republic-jowett-gutenberg-l3115-l3194
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
passage_locator:
label: The Republic / THE REPUBLIC / INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS.; lines 3115-3194
start: '3115'
end: '3194'
translation: The Republic
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: 'The passage analyzes why philosophical natures are corrupted: gifted people
require suitable conditions like strong seeds need good soil, public opinion acts
as a pervasive sophist and monster, the crowd persecutes philosophers, ambitious
youths are flattered toward political power, unworthy people enter philosophy
dishonorably, and only a few genuine philosophers preserve themselves apart from
public life. It concludes that no existing state is suited to philosophy, which
is compared to an exotic seed degenerating in strange soil, and asks how philosophy
may be safely studied and brought into daylight.'
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The philosopher is described as a rare being who can become either the best
or the worst of all men depending on conditions.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Strong seeds in the animal or vegetable world are said to need good air and
soil, and this analogy is applied to human character.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Public opinion is described as present in assemblies, courts, camps, and theatres,
producing applause and hisses that affect a young man's heart.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: If a young man will not yield to opinion, the passage says exile or death
may follow.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: The hireling Sophist is described as a keeper of a monster who studies how
to flatter or anger it and interprets its inarticulate grunts.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: The world is said to be a persecutor of philosophers if it cannot believe
in the idea.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: A gifted young man is flattered into a high opinion of himself and dreams
of kingdoms and empires.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: Philosophy is described as deserted by her natural protectors, entered by
others, and dishonored.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:9
text: Unworthy entrants into philosophy are compared to people rushing from prisons
of the arts into her temple.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:10
text: A mechanic or blacksmith's apprentice is compared to a bridegroom who washes,
dresses, and marries his master's daughter, producing vile and bastard offspring.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:11
text: The few genuine philosophers are said to stand aside from the storm under
the shelter of a wall and try to preserve innocence and depart in peace.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:12
text: Philosophy is compared to an exotic seed that degenerates in strange soil
and only shows heavenly growth in her proper state.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: obs:13
text: The passage says philosophy should be brought into the light of day so the
inquiry can be ended.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: the philosopher
description: A rare being whose nature may become best or worst according to conditions.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: public opinion
description: A pervasive social force described as the real Sophist, present in
assemblies, courts, camps, and theatres.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: hireling Sophist
description: One who gives back to the world its own opinions and is compared to
the keeper of a monster.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: the monster
description: A brute-like collective whose pleasures, dislikes, and inarticulate
grunts determine what is treated as good, evil, truth, and beauty.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: gifted young man
description: A young person flattered by the world into thinking highly of his capacity
and dreaming of rule.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: philosophy
description: Personified as a female figure deserted by natural protectors, dishonored
by unworthy entrants, and later compared to an exotic seed needing proper soil.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:12
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: vulgar little minds
description: Unworthy entrants who rush into philosophy when they see the land open.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: blacksmith's apprentice or mechanic
description: A coarse-souled mechanic compared to a bald little blacksmith's apprentice
who washes and dresses like a bridegroom and marries his master's daughter.
role_refs:
- role:7
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: genuine philosophers
description: A small remnant who have tasted philosophy and withdraw from human
life's dangers to preserve innocence.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: God
description: Mentioned as possibly saving a man when his own strength cannot.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
roles:
- id: role:1
label: rare philosophical nature
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The philosopher is explicitly called rare and capable of becoming best or
worst under conditions.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: corrupting public force
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Public opinion is called the real Sophist and is associated with pressure,
noise, exile, or death.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:3
label: servant of popular opinion
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The hireling Sophist returns the world's opinions and keeps the monster.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:4
label: brute collective judge
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The monster's likes and dislikes define good, evil, truth, and beauty for
its keeper.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:5
label: ambitious corrupted youth
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The youth is flattered into grand self-regard and dreams of kingdoms and
empires.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:6
label: personified endangered discipline
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Philosophy is described as deserted, dishonored, fallen, and in need of a
proper state.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:12
- id: role:7
label: unworthy intruder
assigned_to:
- fig:7
- fig:8
basis: Vulgar minds and a mechanic are described as entering philosophy for status
and dishonoring it.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: role:8
label: improper bridegroom
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The blacksmith's apprentice is compared to a bridegroom marrying the master's
daughter, with bad offspring resulting.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:9
label: withdrawn remnant
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: The few genuine philosophers stand aside from the storm and preserve innocence.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: role:10
label: possible divine rescuer
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: The passage says God may save a man when his own strength cannot.
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: good soil for strong seed
literal_form: strong seeds needing good air and soil
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:2
label: torrent of opinion
literal_form: torrent carrying away a young man
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:3
label: monster of public opinion
literal_form: monster or brute with inarticulate grunts
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:4
label: temple of philosophy
literal_form: philosophy's temple entered by unworthy people
associated_figures:
- fig:6
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:5
label: dishonorable marriage
literal_form: bridegroom marrying master's daughter and producing vile, bastard
offspring
associated_figures:
- fig:6
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: sym:6
label: shelter from storm
literal_form: standing aside from the storm under the shelter of a wall
associated_figures:
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: sym:7
label: exotic seed in strange soil
literal_form: exotic seed degenerating in a strange soil
associated_figures:
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: sym:8
label: light of day
literal_form: bringing philosophy into the light of day
associated_figures:
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Corruption of rare philosophical nature
summary: The passage explains that rare philosophical natures can be destroyed by
unfavorable circumstances, as strong seeds need good air and soil.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Public opinion overwhelms youth
summary: Public opinion operates through civic and theatrical settings, affecting
youth by social noise, force, and possible penalties such as exile or death.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Sophist as keeper of the monster
summary: The hireling Sophist is portrayed as the keeper of a monster whose tastes
define value and truth for those who follow public opinion.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Philosophy abandoned and dishonored
summary: Philosophy is deserted by natural protectors while vulgar entrants enter
her temple, and an image of improper marriage marks the degraded union.
figure_refs:
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: scene:5
label: Remnant withdraws from human life
summary: A few genuine philosophers, after experiencing philosophy and seeing human
life as dangerous, stand aside from the storm to preserve innocence.
figure_refs:
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: scene:6
label: Proper state for philosophy
summary: No existing state is suited to philosophy; she is likened to an exotic
seed that needs its proper soil and should be brought into the light of day.
figure_refs:
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- ev:13
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: rare wisdom figure endangered by corrupt society
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: The philosopher is rare, associated with love of knowledge, and threatened
by public opinion and unsuitable social conditions.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage is philosophical analysis with metaphorical rather than narrative
mythic framing.
- id: motif:2
label: personified wisdom abandoned and dishonored
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Philosophy is personified as a female figure deserted by natural protectors,
entered by unworthy suitors, and dishonored.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
confidence: medium
cautions: The motif is inferred from personification and social allegory, not from
a mythic episode.
- id: motif:3
label: sacred or improper marriage producing degraded offspring
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_marriage
basis: A low-status entrant into philosophy is compared to a bridegroom marrying
his master's daughter, with the issue described as vile and bastard.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
confidence: low
cautions: The marriage image is explicitly pejorative and satirical; it does not
present a sacred union.
- id: motif:4
label: withdrawal of the righteous remnant from a storm of society
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
basis: The few genuine philosophers withdraw from the storm of human life under
a wall to preserve innocence and depart in peace.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
confidence: low
cautions: This is an ethical image of withdrawal rather than a full journey narrative.
- id: motif:5
label: seed requiring proper soil for heavenly growth
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Philosophy and philosophical nature are repeatedly compared to seeds that
require proper soil and degenerate in unsuitable ground.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:12
confidence: medium
cautions: No available taxonomy ref directly matches seed or cultivation imagery;
wisdom is the nearest supported family.
- id: motif:6
label: bringing wisdom into light
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: The passage ends by calling for philosophy to be brought into the light of
day.
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
confidence: low
cautions: The light image is brief and programmatic rather than a developed motif.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 3115-3125
quote_or_summary: The philosopher is called a rare being; good qualities may become
causes of evil, and the best human characters can become worst in unsuitable conditions.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; passage supplied by user.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 3121-3128
quote_or_summary: Strong seeds in animal or vegetable life require good air and
soil; weak natures rarely do great good or harm; the philosopher follows the same
analogy.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; passage supplied by user.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 3129-3137
quote_or_summary: Public opinion is called the real Sophist, present in assembly,
courts, camp, and theatre; the sounds may carry a young man away like a torrent.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; passage supplied by user.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 3137-3141
quote_or_summary: If someone will not yield to opinion, the passage says gentle
compulsion of exile or death follows.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; passage supplied by user.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 3143-3153
quote_or_summary: The hireling Sophist returns the world's opinions, is keeper of
a monster, learns how to flatter or anger it, and treats its likes and dislikes
as standards of good, evil, truth, and beauty.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; passage supplied by user.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 3156-3161
quote_or_summary: The world is said to lack belief in the idea, cannot be a philosopher,
and must therefore persecute philosophers.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; passage supplied by user.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 3161-3167
quote_or_summary: The world flatters a gifted youth, named parenthetically as Alcibiades,
into grand self-opinion; he dreams of kingdoms and empires.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; passage supplied by user.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 3172-3176
quote_or_summary: People of this class may become politicians and cause great harm
or good; philosophy is deserted by natural protectors and dishonored by others
entering in.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; passage supplied by user.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 3176-3179
quote_or_summary: Vulgar little minds see the land open and rush from the prisons
of the arts into philosophy's temple.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; passage supplied by user.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 3179-3186
quote_or_summary: A clever mechanic or bald blacksmith's apprentice washes and dresses
as a bridegroom and marries his master's daughter; the offspring of such marriages
are described as vile and bastard.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; passage supplied by user.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 3186-3194
quote_or_summary: A small remnant of genuine philosophers may remain; after tasting
philosophy and seeing human life as a den of thieves and wild beasts, they stand
aside from the storm under a wall and preserve innocence.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; passage supplied by user.
- id: ev:12
type: summary
locator: lines 3195-3202
quote_or_summary: No existing state is suited to philosophy; she is like an exotic
seed degenerating in strange soil and showing heavenly growth only in her proper
state.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; passage supplied by user.
- id: ev:13
type: summary
locator: lines 3206-3209
quote_or_summary: The question is how philosophy may be safely studied; the passage
says to bring her into the light of day and end the inquiry.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; passage supplied by user.
- id: ev:14
type: summary
locator: lines 3141-3143
quote_or_summary: The passage says some more-than-human characters may be exceptions
and that God may save a man, but not his own strength.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; passage supplied by user.
confidence:
extraction: medium
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: The passage is a philosophical analysis rich in metaphor and personification.
Motif candidates are therefore tentative and based on explicit imagery rather
than mythic narrative. Some supplied locator metadata says lines 3115-3194, while
the provided passage text extends beyond the internal transition; evidence locators
follow approximate supplied line span and nearby continuation as represented in
the prompt.
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 provided passage and metadata. No comparison claims were added because the passage itself does not support a specific cross-textual comparison.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-plato-republic-jowett-gutenberg__l3115-l3194
passage_sha256=0c806b73ca332c91b0a84673e3eb0b1a227c4d8b5e4c494d69ef04e7f81d7eb4