What is Philosophy? A. To be well versed in many, if not all, of the arts, by learning what belongs to the understanding rather than the handiwork of each (like an all-around athlete, as opposed to a specialist). B. To distinguish good and evil in our own and others quality, and practice justice and temperance in the governance of oneself, one’s house and the state.
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“Hipparchus” by Plato
Who is Lover of Gain? All men are lovers of gain, but the wise discern true value. Socrates suggests that Harmodius and Aristogeiton assassinated Hipparchus, not for honor or freedom from tyranny, but because they were jealous of Hipparchus’ influence over the Athenian youths. When “one of the handsome and well-born youths” left them for Hipparchus, “they were so overcome with the pain of this ‘disqualification’ that they slew Hipparchus”. […]
Read more“Minos” by Plato
What Is Law? Is it some sensation or showing, as when things learnt are learnt by knowledge showing them, or some discovery, as when things discovered are discovered—for instance, the causes of health and sickness by medicine, or the designs of the gods, as the prophets say, by prophecy; for art is surely our discovery of things, is it not? Law is discovery of reality; Lawgivers are “apportioners and shepherds […]
Read more“Epinomis” by Plato
The Importance of Number Of the properties of all the arts, not a single one can remain, but all of them are utterly defective, when once you remove numeration. If you note the divinity of birth, and its mortality, in which awe of the divine must be acknowledged, and real number, it is not anybody who can tell how great is the power which we owe to the accompaniment of […]
Read more“Theages” by Plato
Socrates’ Spiritual Power “There is something spiritual which, by a divine dispensation, has accompanied me from my childhood up. It is a voice that, when it occurs, always indicates to me a prohibition of something I may be about to do, but never urges me on to anything ; and if one of my friends consults me and the voice occurs, the same thing happens : it prohibits, and does […]
Read more“Alcibiades I and II” by Plato
Alcibiades, son of Cleinias, nephew of Pericles, was an ambitious statesman of noble birth. Socrates counseled him to seek wisdom and virtue first, so that he may know, firstly, what is good and fitting for himself and for the nation, and secondly, whether he is qualified to rule. Know Thyself “Consider: if some one were to say to the eye, ‘See thyself,’ as you might say to a man, ‘Know […]
Read more“Hippias Minor” by Plato
Socrates argues in this dialogue that the man who lies (or does any sort of evil) voluntarily is better than he who does so involuntarily, because the former has greater power and knowledge. This paradoxical view is consistent with Plato’s assertion in “Laws” that nobody commits injustice voluntarily. Man desires the good and happiness, but injustice renders the one who commits it evil and miserable, the opposite of what he […]
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