Page 495 of 1391

There are serious errors which have a side of truth and which

therefore may fairly demand a careful consideration: there are

truths mixed with error of which we may indeed say, 'The half is

better than the whole.' Yet 'the half' may be an important

contribution to the study of human nature.

(a) The first paradox is the community of goods, which is

mentioned slightly at the end of the third Book, and seemingly,

as Aristotle observes, is confined to the guardians; at least no

mention is made of the other classes. But the omission is not of

any real significance, and probably arises out of the plan of the

work, which prevents the writer from entering into details.