I~>OTES, BOOK Irr. 11. 131
not, is better able to judge than the multitude.' This argument is
tllen refuted in what follo!vs, 5 14.
The contest is rendered difficult by the correction of the word
1 Llltig,' for M hich Aristotle substitutes ' one who has knowledge '
(gg 11, 12). For the distinction between the BrpoupyIc and the
+XLTffl(+UVlKh iarpbs cp. Plat. Laws iv. 720, where the doctor, who
Attends the slaves, is humorously distinguished from the doctor
\ill0 attends freemen. And for the notion of the &bTqc iarpbp
(6 menarSeupdvos mp'c 6y dxqv) cp. Politicus 259 A, cl T$ TLS ri)~dOv vpouayopcb-dar rot~opa T+ ri,pqs rai~Au Zvrp 4 uup~Ouhfifl ;'
G,pomeuudvrov larpGv ~KUV~S &&3ouhc;crv i%rw.rc;ov ahrds, Ep' O~K a'vay-Aristotle proceeds to argue that there is a judgment of common 11,1.+-17.
sense equal, if not superior to that of the artist himself, which is
psessed hy the many.
\Vithout pretending that the voice of the people is the voice of
God, it may be truly said of them, I) that they are free from the
l~,vp~rcriticis~n wliicli besets the individual ; 2) that they form con-
clusions on simple grounds; 3) that their moral principles are
:i.licrally sound; 4) that they are often animated by noble im-
liulscs, and are capable of great sacrifices ; 5) that they retain their
Iiuinan and national feeling. The intelligent populace at Athens,
tilough changeable as the wind (Thuc. ii. 65; Dernosth. 383, d piv
8+or. ,.... &u~E~ b 6aXri~~g lrvctpa (iKQT(iUTQT0V') and subject to
fit5 of panic and fanatical fury (Thuc. vi. 27), were also capable of
entertaining generous thoughts (Id. iii. 49), and of showing a wise
moderation (Id, viii. 97), and in nearly every respect were superior
to their oligarchical contemporaries, far less cunning and cruel
(I(l. iv. SO), and far more willing to make sacrifices (Id. i. 74) for
the public interest.
The more general question which is here suggested by Aristotle,
P 113 ' I!hether the amateur or the artist is the better judge of a
'wrk of art or literature' is also worthy of attention. It is probable
that either is a better judge than the other, but of different merits
Or excellences, The artist e.g. may be expected to be the best
judge of points in which a minute knowledge of detail is required ;
the amateur has the truer sense of proportion because he compares
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