ALCIBIADES (I) by Plato - Complete text

Page 46

Soc.: Then if the eye is to see itself, it must look at the eye, and at that part of the eye where sight which is the virtue of the eye resides?

Alc.: True.

Soc.: And if the soul, my dear Alcibiades, is ever to know herself, must she not look at the soul; and especially at that part of the soul in which her virtue resides, and to any other which is like this?

Alc.: I agree, Socrates.

Soc.: And do we know of any part of our souls more divine than that which has to do with wisdom and knowledge?

Alc.: There is none.

Soc.: Then this is that part of the soul which resembles the divine; and he who looks at this and at the whole class of things divine, will be most likely to know himself?

Alc.: Clearly.

Soc.: And self - knowledge we agree to be wisdom?

Alc.: True.

Soc.: But if we have no self - knowledge and no wisdom, can we ever know our own good and evil?

Alc.: How can we, Socrates?

Soc.: You mean, that if you did not know Alcibiades, there would be no possibility of your knowing that what belonged to Alcibiades was really his?

Alc.: It would be quite impossible.

Soc.: Nor should we know that we were the persons to whom anything belonged, if we did not know ourselves?

Alc.: How could we?

Soc.: And if we did not know our own belongings, neither should we know the belongings of our belongings?

Alc.: Clearly not.

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