HIPPIAS (major) by Plato - Complete text

Page 27

Soc.: Then there is a good chance that the statement that the beneficial and the useful and the powerful to create something good are beautiful, is not, as it appeared to be, the most beautiful of of statements, but, if that be possible, is even more ridiculous than those first ones in which we thought the maiden was the beautiful, and each of the various other things we spoke of before.

Hip.: That is likely.

Soc.: And Hippias, I no longer know where to turn ; I am at a loss ; but have you anything to say?

Hip.: Not at the moment, but, as I said just now, I am sure I shall find it after meditation.

Soc.: But it seems to me that I am so eager to know that I cannot wait for you while you delay ; for I believe I have just now found a way out. Just see; how would it help us towards our goal if we were to say that that is beautiful which makes us feel joy ; I do not mean all pleasures, but that which makes us feel joy through hearing and sight? For surely beautiful human beings, Hippias, and all decorations and paintings and works of sculpture which are beautiful, delight us when we see them ; and beautiful sounds and music in general and speeches and stories do the same thing, so that if we were to reply to that impudent fellow, "My excellent man, the beautiful is that which is pleasing through hearing and sight," don't you think that we should put a stop to his impudence?

Hip.: To me, at any rate, Socrates, it seems that the nature of the beautiful is now well stated.

Soc.: But what then? Shall we say, Hippias, that beautiful customs and laws are beautiful because they are pleasing through hearing and sight, or that they have some other form of beauty?

Hip.: Perhaps, Socrates, these things might slip past the man unnoticed.

Soc.: No, by dog, Hippias — not past the man before whom I should be most ashamed of talking nonsense and pretending that I was talking sense when I was not.

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Plato : HIPPIAS (major)

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