Averroes' Paraphrase of Plato's Republic

powerful to read

feruit, ad illiusq; propositum se format. Sermones
uerò, quibus ciues edocentur (ut dictum est) nonnul-
li de scientiis tractant, nonnulli uerò de rebus agen-
des, sermonum quidem illorum duo sunt genera,
quorum alterum in demonstratiua, alterum in proba-
bili, topica scilicet rethorica, et poetica ratione uer-
fatur. Inter has uerò poetica erudiendis pueris ma-
ximè propria est, qui iam adulti, si idonei sunt, qui
ad alium disciplinæ ordinem sese transferat, ea cer-
tè iam ita sunt affecti, ut, si natura permiserit pos-
sint ad demonstratiuas disciplinas promoueri, quo
in gradu sapientes sunt. At qui, si reluctabitur na-
tura, eo in loco restabit, quem transire natura non
concesserit: aut scilicet in topicis orationibus, aut
uulgaribus alijs duobus disciplinæ generibus rheto-
rico, & poetico, quamq; poeticum ipsum communius,
pueris tamen magis proprium. Res uerò, quæ in con-
templationem ueniunt omnibus ferè comunes sunt,
nisi fortè cogeremur certi cuiuspiam finis gratia sin-
gularia, ac propria quædam fingere ob simplicem,
seu incōpositam alicuius hominis intentionem, & opi-
nionem. Idq; his præsertim conuenit, de quibus paulò
antè sermonem fecimus, utpote, qui mortuos uiuere
dicunt, alijsq; fabulis à uero alienissimis utuntur. In
contemplatiōe uerò, quæ per uirtutem fingere licet,

Education is divided into demonstrative knowledge and probable knowledge, the latter encompassing rhetoric and poetry. Poetry is best suited for the instruction of children. As they mature, those with the natural aptitude move toward demonstrative, scientific disciplines, where the wise reside. Those lacking this aptitude remain with rhetorical or poetic instruction. The text criticizes those who invent fables, such as claiming the dead are alive, noting that such stories are far from the truth.