Couches--Book X

I would like to adress the three types of couches that Socrates discusses. They are as follows: the painter, the couchmaker, and the god (597b). The couch is obviously a symbol for truth. Therefore, the god (or God) produces truth. Then, we have the couchmaker. This is someone who has knowledge of the truth, but not full knowledge. Finally, we have the painter--or the imitator. This person can paint a picture of truth, but lacks the actual substance of truth itself.

I think we can find that each person is either a couchmaker an imitator (this includes the apathetic).

Although couchmakers aren't fully knowledgeable, they are still knowledgable enough to teach someone else how to make a couch so they can start making couches for themselves. They can offer the "structure" for a couch, but ultimately it is up to the other person to be wise, recieve, and follow through with their desire to learn about the couch.

Although an imitator can have the apperance of being knowledgable, what it seperates him is the fact that he has nothing to give away that comes from himself. Everything he says is adopted. However, this is not to say that when he DOES find truth, it will be the same truth that other men have found. Asking someone not what they believe in, but why they believe in it, most almost always reveals whether they are a couchmaker or an imitator. At least, that's what I've found.