Remarks on the dialogue. If the parts had been inverted, the dialogue would have been cited by critics as a specimen of the sophistry and corruption of the Sophists 62 Polemical purpose of the dialogue--Hippias humiliated by Sokrates 63 Philosophical purpose of the dialogue--theory of the Dialogues of Search generally, and of Knowledge as understood by Plato _ib._ The Hippias is an exemplification of this theory--Sokrates sets forth a case of confusion, and avows his inability to clear it up. Confusion shown up in the Lesser Hippias--Error in the Greater 64 The thesis maintained here by Sokrates, is also affirmed by the historical Sokrates in the Xenophontic Memorabilia 66 Aristotle combats the thesis. Arguments against it 67 Mistake of Sokrates and Plato in dwelling too exclusively on the intellectual conditions of human conduct _ib._ They rely too much on the analogy of the special arts--they take no note of the tacit assumptions underlying the epithets of praise and blame 68 Value of a Dialogue of Search, that it shall be suggestive, and that it shall bring before us different aspects of the question under review 69 Antithesis between Rhetoric and Dialectic 70 CHAPTER XIV. HIPPARCHUS--MINOS. Hipparchus--Question--What is the definition of Lover of Gain? He is one who thinks it right to gain from things worth nothing. Sokrates cross-examines upon this explanation. No man expects to gain from things which he knows to be worth nothing: in this sense, no man is a lover of gain 71 Gain is good. Every man loves good: therefore all men are lovers of gain 72 Apparent contradiction. Sokrates accuses the companion of trying to deceive him--accusation is retorted upon Sokrates 73 Precept inscribed formerly by Hipparchus the Peisistratid--never deceive a friend. Eulogy of Hipparchus by Sokrates _ib._ Sokrates allows the companion to retract some of his answers. The companion affirms that some gain is good, other gain is evil 74 Questions by Sokrates--bad gain is _gain_, as much as good gain. What is the common property, in virtue of which both are called Gain? Every acquisition, made with no outlay, or with a smaller outlay, is gain. Objections--the acquisition may be evil--embarrassment confessed _ib._ It is essential to gain, that the acquisition made shall be greater not merely in quantity, but also in value, than the outlay. The valuable is the profitable--the profitable is the good. Conclusion comes back. That Gain is Good 75 Recapitulation. The debate has shown that all gain is good, and that there is no evil gain--all men are lovers of gain--no man ought to be reproached for being so the companion is compelled to admit this, though he declares that he is not persuaded _ib._ Minos. Question put by Sokrates to the companion. What is Law, or The Law? All law is the same, _quatenus_ law: what is the common constituent attribute? 76