HIPPIAS (major) by Plato - Complete text

Page 14

Hip.: Well, certainly, Socrates, if that is what he is looking for, nothing is easier than to answer and tell him what the beautiful is, by which all other things are adorned and by the addition of which they are made to appear beautiful. So the fellow is very simple-minded and knows nothing about beautiful possessions. For if you reply to him : "This that you ask about, the beautiful, is nothing else but gold," he will be thrown into confusion and will not attempt to confute you. For we all know, I fancy, that wherever this is added, even what before appears ugly will appear beautiful when adorned with gold.

Soc.: You don't know the man, Hippias, what a wretch he is, and how certain not to accept anything easily.

Hip.: What of that, then, Socrates? For he must perforce accept what is correct, or if he does not accept it, be ridiculous.

Soc.: This reply, my most excellent friend, he not only will certainly not accept, but he will even jeer at me grossly and will say : "You lunatic, do you think Pheidias is a bad craftsman?" And I shall say, "Not in the least."

Hip.: And you will be right, Socrates.

Soc.: Yes, to be sure. Consequently when I agree that Pheidias is a good craftsman, "Well, then," he will say, "do you imagine that Pheidias did not know this beautiful that you speak of?" "Why do you ask that?" I shall say. "Because," he will say, "he did not make the eyes of his Athena of gold, nor the rest of her face, nor her hands and feet, if, that is, they were sure to appear most beautiful provided only they were made of gold, but he made them of ivory ; evidently he made this mistake through ignorance, not knowing that it is gold which makes everything beautiful to which it is added." When he says that, what reply shall we make to him, Hippias?

Hip.: That is easy ; for we shall say that Pheidias did right ; for ivory, I think, is beautiful.

Previous Page / First / Next

Plato : HIPPIAS (major)

Learned Freeware