Key Arguments

• Strategic and ethical unity: Hellenes should 'spare them, considering the danger which there is that the whole race may one day fall under the yoke of the barbarians.'
• Despoiling the dead fosters cowardice and avarice: 'Cowards skulk about the dead... many an army before now has been lost from this love of plunder.'
• Desecration concerns: 'the offering of spoils taken from kinsmen may be a pollution unless commanded by the god himself.'
• Terminological and natural distinction: 'there is a difference in the names 'discord' and 'war'... the Hellenic race is all united together by ties of blood and friendship... alien and strange to the barbarians.'
• Humane conduct toward fellow Hellenes: quarrel 'as those who intend some day to be reconciled,' 'use friendly correction,' avoid enslaving or destroying, recognize 'the guilt of war is always confined to a few persons.'
• Economic restraint: forbid devastation and burning; 'I would take the annual produce and no more.'
• Positive law: 'let us enact this law also for our guardians:—that they are neither to devastate the lands of Hellenes nor to burn their houses.'

Source Quotes

Should not their custom be to spare them, considering the danger which there is that the whole race may one day fall under the yoke of the barbarians? To spare them is infinitely better. Then no Hellene should be owned by them as a slave; that is a rule which they will observe and advise the other Hellenes to observe.

Does not the practice of despoiling an enemy afford an excuse for not facing the battle? Cowards skulk about the dead, pretending that they are fulfilling a duty, and many an army before now has been lost from this love of plunder. Very true.

Yes, he replied, we most certainly must. Neither shall we offer up arms at the temples of the gods, least of all the arms of Hellenes, if we care to maintain good feeling with other Hellenes; and, indeed, we have reason to fear that the offering of spoils taken from kinsmen may be a pollution unless commanded by the god himself? Very true.

That is a very proper distinction, he replied. And may I not observe with equal propriety that the Hellenic race is all united together by ties of blood and friendship, and alien and strange to the barbarians? Very good, he said.

Very good, he said. And therefore when Hellenes fight with barbarians and barbarians with Hellenes, they will be described by us as being at war when they fight, and by nature enemies, and this kind of antagonism should be called war; but when Hellenes fight with one another we shall say that Hellas is then in a state of disorder and discord, they being by nature friends; and such enmity is to be called discord. I agree.

Certainly. They will use friendly correction, but will not enslave or destroy their opponents; they will be correctors, not enemies? Just so.

May I have the pleasure, he said, of hearing your opinion? Both should be forbidden, in my judgment; I would take the annual produce and no more. Shall I tell you why?

I agree, he said, that our citizens should thus deal with their Hellenic enemies; and with barbarians as the Hellenes now deal with one another. Then let us enact this law also for our guardians:—that they are neither to devastate the lands of Hellenes nor to burn their houses. Agreed; and we may agree also in thinking that these, like all our previous enactments, are very good.

Key Concepts

• To spare them is infinitely better.
• Cowards skulk about the dead, pretending that they are fulfilling a duty, and many an army before now has been lost from this love of plunder.
• the offering of spoils taken from kinsmen may be a pollution unless commanded by the god himself?
• the Hellenic race is all united together by ties of blood and friendship, and alien and strange to the barbarians?
• we shall say that Hellas is then in a state of disorder and discord, they being by nature friends
• They will use friendly correction, but will not enslave or destroy their opponents; they will be correctors, not enemies?
• I would take the annual produce and no more.
• that they are neither to devastate the lands of Hellenes nor to burn their houses.

Context

Socrates articulates laws of war distinguishing intra-Hellenic conflict (to be minimized and humanized) from war with barbarians, prescribing restraint and solidarity among Greeks.

Perspectives

Plato

Supports the linguistic and natural distinction to moderate thumos within the Hellenic community; such norms cultivate unity and justice.

Socrates

Frames humane constraints as both strategically prudent and ethically fitting to kinship, codified as law for guardians.