Recently, I have been reading Plato's "The Republic" based on the recommendation of Teacher Luo Xiang, which has sparked some interest in me. I also hope that it can have a purifying effect on my soul and calm down my restless heart.
However, the whole book has a touch of sophistry, so it needs to be carefully discerned. We must not fall into the "traps" set by it. Just like in life, we need to analyze and understand things, and not blindly believe. People are subjective, and everyone interprets the content differently.
When a person knows that they are about to die, there is a lingering panic and anxiety in their mind, fearing punishment in the afterlife for the wrongs committed in this life.
I used to find these words laughable, but now I can't help but feel doubtful and uneasy. I often recall whether I have harmed anyone before.
The reason why I have such worries and concerns only now is probably because I am getting older and mentally weaker, or it's like a drifting boat about to reach the shore, so I can see things on the other side more clearly. If I know that I have committed great sins, I will become overly pessimistic and often wake up from dreams in a state of extreme fear.
But for those who have a clear conscience, the word "hope" is the guardian of their soul.
Justice is always relative.
I am glad that I have freed myself from what you call love and desire. This kind of liberation is like escaping from the sea of suffering under a tyrant's rule.
When I read this, I just want to say, "Plato misled me!" (facepalm)
If among the answers that you forbid, there is one that I believe is correct, even if it is dangerous, I will use it.
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If, beyond these options, I can provide a better and more just explanation, what would you say?
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I should accept the punishment of ignorance. Throughout history, those who realize their mistakes later should learn from those who had foresight.
Learning is always endless. If in the future, you discover errors in the knowledge you once possessed, there is no need to feel embarrassed or lost. You should humbly learn from them and transform them into your own thoughts and knowledge.
Great things were never easy.
A person's determination can change due to others' advice or be forgotten due to negligence. The former is shaken by external forces, while the latter is eroded by time.