Averroes' Paraphrase of Plato's Republic

affectus consummatissimos habeat, quibus, & notos,
qui ipsi sunt ciues deament, et ignotos, hostes scilicet
exteros oderint. namq; et amicitia utilitatis alicu-
ius causa, et inimicitiæ ob dãnum, aliquod susceptæ
perfacilè cessant, indeq; efficiatur, ut inimici sint
Many things proceed from here principes, et uicissim principes inimici. atq; id qui-
dem per se clarum est, potestq; ex superioribus ui-
deri consequens custodes, atq; defensores natura de-
bere esse philosophos, uidelicet scientiam, seu cogni-
tionem diligentes, ignorantiam respuentes, iracun-
dos, motu ueloces, robusto corpore, perspicaci sen-
su. Ac rationes quidem, quibus institui, exerceriq; de-
bent, duæ esse uidentur, Gymnastica altera, altera,
Musica: & gymnastica quidem, ut corpus exer-
Many things must also be practiced from here citatione ueram, solidamq; uim adipiscatur. Musi-
ca uerò, quò animus eruditione, uirtuteq; excolatur
ipse, eiusmodi tamen eruditio, per musicam scilicet
tempore prior existit. Quoniam quidem, quæ in in
telligendo est habilitas, citior est, præceditq; quamli
bet corporis aptitudinem, quæ gymnastica acquiri-
tur. Intelligo autem per musicã poeticos sermones,
concentu, numerisq; compositos, quibus ciues insti-
tuãtur, eaq; causa consonantiam inesse uoluit, quod
tales sermones altius, magisq; animum moueant.
Namq; ut iam superius dictum, poeticæ musicæ in-

Guardians must naturally be philosophers, meaning they love knowledge and reject ignorance. They must also be spirited, swift, and robust. They are trained through two methods: Gymnastica physical exercise, to strengthen the body, and Musica music/liberal arts, to cultivate the mind and virtue. Musical education—specifically poetic discourse composed in harmony and rhythm—is prioritized because the capacity for understanding develops before physical fitness.