HIPPIAS (minor) by Plato - Complete text

Page 6

Socr.: And could you speak falsehoods about them equally well? I must beg, Hippias, that you will answer me with the same frankness and magnanimity which has hitherto characterized you. If a person were to ask you what is the sum of 3 multiplied by 700, would not you be the best and most consistent teller of a falsehood, having always the power of speaking falsely as you have of speaking truly, about these same matters, if you wanted to tell a falsehood, and not to answer truly? Would the ignorant man be better able to tell a falsehood in matters of calculation than you would be, if you chose? Might he not sometimes stumble upon the truth, when he wanted to tell a lie, because he did not know, whereas you who are the wise man, if you wanted to tell a lie would always and consistently lie?

Hipp.: Yes, there you are quite right.

Socr.: Does the false man tell lies about other things, but not about number, or when he is making a calculation?

Hipp.: To be sure; he would tell as many lies about number as about other things.

Socr.: Then may we further assume, Hippias, that there are men who are false about calculation and number?

Hipp.: Yes.

Socr.: Who can they be? For you have already admitted that he who is false must have the ability to be false: you said, as you will remember, that he who is unable to be false will not be false?

Hipp.: Yes, I remember; it was so said.

Socr.: And were you not yourself just now shown to be best able to speak falsely about calculation?

Hipp.: Yes; that was another thing which was said.

Socr.: And are you not likewise said to speak truly about calculation?

Hipp.: Certainly.

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Plato : HIPPIAS (minor)

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