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No wonder that in the vacancy of actual knowledge his followers,

and at times even he himself, should have fallen away from the

doctrine of ideas, and have returned to that branch of knowledge

in which alone the relation of the one and many can be truly

seen-the science of number. In his views both of teaching and

training he might be styled, in modern language, a doctrinaire;

after the Spartan fashion he would have his citizens cast in one

mould; he does not seem to consider that some degree of freedom,

'a little wholesome neglect,' is necessary to strengthen and

develope the character and to give play to the individual nature.

His citizens would not have acquired that knowledge which in the

vision of Er is supposed to be gained by the pilgrims from their

experience of evil.