The Nature of Intermediates (Compromises) “For all persons or things, which are intermediate between two other things, and participate in both of them–if one of these two things is good and the other evil, are better than the one and worse than the other; but if they are in a mean between two good things which do not tend to the same end, they fall short of either of their […]
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“Charmides” by Plato
Wisdom vs. Relation to Self The wise man “will know himself, and be able to examine what he knows or does not know, and to see what others know and think that they know and do really know; and what they do not know, and fancy that they know, when they do not. No other person will be able to do this. And this is wisdom and temperance and self-knowledge–for […]
Read more“Laches” by Plato
Conversation with Socrates “Any one who has an intellectual affinity to Socrates and enters into conversation with him is liable to be drawn into an argument; and whatever subject he may start, he will be continually carried round and round by him, until at last he finds that he has to give an account both of his present and past life ; and when he is once entangled, Socrates will not […]
Read more“Sophist” by Plato
A sophist states, to the effect that, falsehood is that which is not, and because that which is not does not exist, falsehood doesn’t exist. Socrates refutes that argument in this fascinating exercise in ontology, a discourse on the definition of being, not being, same, other, rest, motion, truth and falsehood. What it highlights for me is the circularity or futility, for lack of a better word, of using language […]
Read more“Gorgias” by Plato
In this dialogue, Socrates argues that, just as the aim of a good man should not be to gratify his desires but to improve himself and strive toward goodness, so the prime object of the truly good statesman should not consist in gratifying the desires of the citizens, but in “transforming those desires and not allowing them to have their way, and using the powers which they had, whether of persuasion […]
Read more“Timaeus and Critias” by Plato
In “Republic”, Plato constructed an ideal State; in “Timaeus”, he designed an ideal Universe. Plato’s universe is built with proportion, order, beauty, symmetry and cycles according to the pattern of the Eternal Being. Both universe and man are governed by the same principles, such as “like to like”, which are inductive to harmony and stability; Both are composed of mortal body and immortal soul; Both are made of four elements, […]
Read more“Republic” by Plato
One of the best books I’ve ever read. I wish I had read it twenty years ago, but perhaps I would not have appreciated it as much. Although this is one of the most influential books in history, I put off reading it because of a lack of interest in political science. Ironically, another influential book on the subject, “The Prince” by Niccolo Machiavelli, drove me to this, to seek […]
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