The Republic

by G.M.A. Grube

It's wholly necessary, therefore, that a user of each thing has most experience of it and that he tell a maker which of his products performs well or badly in actual use. A flute-player, for example, tells a flute-maker about the flutes that respond well in actual playing and prescribes what kind of flutes he is to make, while the maker follows his instructions. [e] Of course. Then doesn't the one who knows give instructions about good and bad flutes, and doesn't the other rely on him in making them? Yes. Therefore, a maker—through associating with and having to listen to the one who knows—has right opinion about whether something he makes is fine or bad, but the one who knows is the user. [602] That's right. Does an imitator have knowledge of whether the things he makes are fine or right through having made use of them, or does he have right opinion about them through having to consort with the one who knows and being told how he is to paint them? Neither. Therefore an imitator has neither knowledge nor right opinion about whether the things he makes are fine or bad.