When a soul is implanted into a body, sensations, desires, fears, and pride arise. If one can control these things, then they live correctly; conversely, if one is controlled by them, then they live incorrectly.

A soul that has lived correctly returns to its kindred star, while a soul that has strayed from the path moves on to another life. This process continues until reason restores order to the physical body and brings it back to its original, excellent state.

Dialogue Text

Timaios (Continued). Therefore, it was necessary for all of them that a single sensation arise from intense passive influence, and then desires mixed with pleasure and pain, and further, fear and pride, and things that follow those, and also things that are inherently divided in the opposite direction. If these can be controlled, the soul will live correctly; if they control these, the soul will live unjustly.

Timaios (Continued) Those who have lived their lives according to the prescribed period will return to their original dwelling among the stars, along with their kin, and experience a happy and familiar life. However, those who deviate from this path will be reborn as women. And if they do not cease their wickedness even then, they will constantly transform into some kind of beastly nature that is similar to how they became wicked.

Timaios (Continued) And that person never ceases to experience hardship. Following the course of identity and similarity within themselves, they draw a large mass of fire, water, air, and earth onto themselves, and until reason governs this tumultuous and irrational collection, bringing it back to its original, most excellent state, they will continue to suffer.

Timaios (Continued) God established all these things according to law, so that each individual would not be held responsible for the evil that follows. He then sowed certain souls into the earth, others into the moon, and still others into other organs of time. After sowing, he entrusted young gods with shaping mortal bodies, creating the remaining parts that should join human souls, along with everything else associated with them, and governing these things. They must rule over mortal beings in the most beautiful and excellent way possible, so that they do not become a cause of evil for themselves.