A History of Greek Philosophy / SOCRATES

Page 13

A specimen of his manner of conversation preserved for us by Xenophon (Memor. IV. ii.) will make the difference clearer. Euthydemus was a young man who had shown great industry in forming a collection of wise sayings from poets and others, and who prided himself on his superior wisdom because of his knowledge of these. Socrates skilfully manages to get the ear of this young man by commending him for his collection, and asks him what he expects his learning to help him to become? A physician? No, Euthydemus answers. An architect? No. And so in like manner with other practical skills,—the geometrician’s, astronomer’s, professional reciter’s. None of these he discovers is what Euthydemus aims at. He hopes to become a great politician and statesman. Then of course he hopes to be a just man himself? Euthydemus flatters himself he is that already. “But,” says Socrates, “there must be certain acts which are the proper products of justice, as of other functions or skills?”—“No doubt.”—“Then of course you can tell us what those acts or products are?”—“Of course I can, and the products of injustice as well.”—“Very good; then suppose we write down in two opposite columns what acts are products of justice and what of injustice.”—“I agree,” says Euthydemus.—“Well now, what of falsehood? In which column shall we put it?”—“Why, of course in the unjust column.”—“And cheating?”—“In the same column.”—“And stealing?”—“In it too.”—“And enslaving?”—“Yes.”—“Not one of these can go to the just column?”—“Why, that would be an unheard-of thing.”

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