The dialogues of Plato in five volumes, Vol. 2 (of 5) : $b Translated into English with analyses and introductions — Plato — John Shaqi
The dialogues of Plato in five volumes, Vol. 2 (of 5) : $b Translated into English with analyses and introductions
Plato · en
round, and steadies the earth by the heaven; another gives
the air as a support to the earth, which is a sort of broad
trough. Any power which in arranging them as they are
arranges them for the best never enters into their minds;
and instead of finding any superior strength in it, they rather
expect to discover another Atlas of the world who is stronger
and more everlasting and more containing than the good;—of
the obligatory and containing power of the good they think
nothing; and yet this is the principle which I would fain
learn if any one would teach me. But as I have failed either
to discover myself, or to learn of any one else, the nature of
the best, I will exhibit to you, if you like, what I have found
to be the second best mode of enquiring into the cause.
I should very much like to hear, he replied.
[Sidenote: _The power of the best._]
[Sidenote: The eye of the soul.]
[Sidenote: The abstract as plain or plainer than the concrete.]
Socrates proceeded:—I thought that as I had failed in the
contemplation of true existence, I ought to be careful that I
did not lose the eye of my soul; as people may injure their
bodily eye by observing and gazing on the sun during an
eclipse, unless they take the precaution of only looking at
the image reflected in the water, or in some similar medium.
So in my own case, I was afraid that my soul might be
blinded altogether if I looked at things with my eyes or tried
to apprehend them by the help of the senses. And I thought
that I had better have recourse to the world of mind and
seek there the truth of existence. I dare say that the simile 100
is not perfect—for I am very far from admitting that he who
contemplates existences through the medium of thought, sees
them only ‘through a glass darkly,’ any more than he who
considers them in action and operation. However, this was
the method which I adopted: I first assumed some principle
which I judged to be the strongest, and then I affirmed as
true whatever seemed to agree with this, whether relating to
the cause or to anything else; and that which disagreed I regarded
as untrue. But I should like to explain my meaning
more clearly, as I do not think that you as yet understand
me.
No indeed, replied Cebes, not very well.
[Sidenote: _The ideas._]
[Sidenote: If the ideas have an absolute existence, the soul is immortal.]