3.7: Physical Training

Last updated
Save as PDF

Page ID: 94502

\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

See 403c-404e. The guardians need to be strong, alert, and resilient, “like sleepless hounds,” keen of sight and hearing, with a kind of health that adapts to the changes in temperature and diet typical of a soldier’s life in the field. To this end, Socrates recommends a regime of diet and exercise similar in kind to the training in music and poetry already described, the emphasis being on simplicity. They are to work out like athletes but keep to the simplest foods such as plain roasted meats. They are to avoid drunkenness, fancy dishes, and prostitutes.

What if someone were to object that restricting experiences in the way Socrates recommends is no way to teach the kind of toughness he is looking for. If you someone to develop a cast iron stomach, then you should work as much variety into their diet as possible: hot and cold preparations, large and small portions, sweet dishes, peppery dishes, bland dishes, etc. The same goes for exercising the body. Long-distance running is fine, but sprinting should also be included, and pole vaulting, and racquetball, and swimming, and shot putt, and wrestling, and tightrope walking, and so on. In general, if the idea is to prepare people to cope with difficulties arising from changing conditions, then simplicity in diet and exercise is undesirable. How might Socrates reply? What value does he see in keeping diet and exercise simple?