Private person and amateur

Use in the book

Alcibiades says the existing politicians entered civic affairs as amateurs and infers that he need not trouble to train. The criticism at 119b is inadequate preparation, not the claim that they hold no public influence. At 121a Socrates says he and Alcibiades and their fathers are private persons, contrasting them with continuously royal dynasties. Here private status does not mean that none has ever performed public service or that all are incapable: it denies inherited kingship in the comparison. At 126c–d private people and cities can each achieve agreement in calculable matters through the same expertise. At 134e the contrast again concerns scale, a private individual or an entire city exposed to the consequences of unrestricted power without sense. The family therefore moves between nonroyal standing, individual agency and amateur competence; translating every occurrence as “ignorant person” would destroy those distinctions.

Places to read

1. 119bThe adverb describes politicians’ amateur preparation.
2. 121aPrivate status contrasts with hereditary royal succession.
3. 126c–126dIndividuals and cities can share the same ground of agreement.
4. 134e–135a2The consequences of unwise license apply at private and civic scale.

Translation in this edition

The edition uses “as amateurs” in the first context and “private person” elsewhere. The modern English insult “idiot” is not an adequate equivalent for these uses.

ἰδιώτης

Attested: ἰδιῶται (idiōtai; 121a, 126c); ἰδιώτῃ (idiōtēi; 134e). Private person: nonroyal individual at 121a; individual rather than city at 134e. Lexical identification: lemma: ἰδιώτης. See Private person and amateur.

ἰδιωτικός / ἰδιωτικῶς

Attested: ἰδιωτικῶς (idiōtikōs; 119b). Amateur or untrained in manner, of politicians entering public affairs without proper preparation. Lexical identification: family label: ἰδιωτικός / ἰδιωτικῶς. See Private person and amateur.