PHILEBUS by Plato - Complete text

Page 40

Soc. Well, then, my view is -

Pro. What is it?

Soc. We agree - do we not? - that there is such a thing as false, and also such a thing as true opinion?

Pro. Yes.

Soc. And pleasure and pain, as I was just now saying, are often consequent upon these upon true and false opinion, I mean.

Pro. Very true.

Soc. And do not opinion and the endeavour to form an opinion always spring from memory and perception?

Pro. Certainly.

Soc. Might we imagine the process to be something of this nature?

Pro. Of what nature?

Soc. An object may be often seen at a distance not very clearly, and the seer may want to determine what it is which he sees.

Pro. Very likely.

Soc. Soon he begins to interrogate himself.

Pro. In what manner?

Soc. He asks himself - "What is that which appears to be standing by the rock under the tree?" This is the question which he may be supposed to put to himself when he sees such an appearance.

Pro. True.

Soc. To which he may guess the right answer, saying as if in a whisper to himself - "It is a man."

Pro. Very good.

Soc. Or again, he may be misled, and then he will say - "No, it is a figure made by the shepherds."

Pro. Yes.

Previous Page / First / Next

Plato : PHILEBUS

Learned Freeware