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Now I saw that he was getting angry with me for drawing distinctions; when he wanted to catch me in his springes of words。 And I remembered that Connus was always angry with me when I opposed him; and then he neglected me; because he thought that I was stupid; and as I was intending to go to Euthydemus as a pupil; I reflected that I had better let him have his way; as he might think me a blockhead; and refuse to take me。 So I said: You are a far better dialectician than myself; Euthydemus; for I have never made a profession of the art; and therefore do as you say; ask your questions once more; and I will answer。
Answer then; he said; again; whether you know what you know with something; or with nothing。
Yes; I said; I know with my soul。
The man will answer more than the question; for I did not ask you; he said; with what you know; but whether you know with something。
Again I replied; Through ignorance I have answered too much; but I hope that you will forgive me。 And now I will answer simply that I always know what I know with something。
And is that something; he rejoined; always the same; or sometimes one thing; and sometimes another thing?
Always; I replied; when I know; I know with this。
Will you not cease adding to your answers?
My fear is that this word 'always' may get us into trouble。
You; perhaps; but certainly not us。 And now answer: Do you always know with this?
Always; since I am required to withdraw the words 'when I know。'
You always know with this; or; always knowing; do you know some things with this; and some things with something else; or do you know all things with this?
All that I know; I replied; I know with this。
There again; Socrates; he said; the addition is superfluous。
Well; then; I said; I will take away the words 'that I know。'
Nay; take nothing away; I desire no favours of you; but let me ask: Would you be able to know all things; if you did not know all things?
Quite impossible。
And now; he said; you may add on whatever you like; for you confess that you know all things。
I suppose that is true; I said; if my qualification implied in the words 'that I know' is not allowed to stand; and so I do know all things。
And have you not admitted that you always know all things with that which you know; whether you make the addition of 'when you know them' or not? for you have acknowledged that you have always and at once known all things; that is to say; when you were a child; and at your birth; and when you were growing up; and before you were born; and before the heaven and earth existed; you knew all things; if you always know them; and I swear that you shall always continue to know all things; if I am of the mind to make you。
But I hope that you will be of that mind; reverend Euthydemus; I said; if you are really speaking the truth; and yet I a little doubt your power to make good your words unless you have the help of your brother Dionysodorus; then you may do it。 Tell me now; both of you; for although in the main I cannot doubt that I really do know all things; when I am told so by men of your prodigious wisdomhow can I say that I know such things; Euthydemus; as that the good are unjust; come; do I know that or not?
Certainly; you know that。
What do I know?
That the good are not unjust。
Quite true; I said; and that I have always known; but the question is; where did I learn that the good are unjust?
Nowhere; said Dionysodorus。
Then; I said; I do not know this。
You are ruining the argument; said Euthydemus to Dionysodorus; he will be proved not to know; and then after all he will be knowing and not knowing at the same time。
Dionysodorus blushed。
I turned to the other; and said; What do you think; Euthydemus? Does not your omniscient brother appear to you to have made a mistake?
What; replied Dionysodorus in a moment; am I the brother of Euthydemus?
Thereupon I said; Please not to interrupt; my good friend; or prevent Euthydemus from proving to me that I know the good to be unjust; such a lesson you might at least allow me to learn。
You are running away; Socrates; said Dionysodorus; and refusing to answer。
No wonder; I said; for I am not a match for one of you; and a fortiori I must run away from two。 I am no Heracles; and even Heracles could not fight against the Hydra; who was a she…Sophist; and had the wit to shoot up many new heads when one of them was cut off; especially when he saw a second monster of a sea…crab; who was also a Sophist; and appeared to have newly arrived from a sea…voyage; bearing down upon him from the left; opening his mouth and biting。 When the monster was growing troublesome he called Iolaus; his nephew; to his help; who ably succoured him; but if my Iolaus; who is my brother Patrocles (the statuary); were to come; he would only make a bad business worse。
And now that you have delivered yourself of this strain; said Dionysodorus; will you inform me whether Iolaus was the nephew of Heracles any more than he is yours?
I suppose that I had best answer you; Dionysodorus; I said; for you will insist on askingthat I pretty well knowout of envy; in order to prevent me from learning the wisdom of Euthydemus。
Then answer me; he said。
Well then; I said; I can only reply that Iolaus was not my nephew at all; but the nephew of Heracles; and his father was not my brother Patrocles; but Iphicles; who has a name rather like his; and was the brother of Heracles。
And is Patrocles; he said; your brother?
Yes; I said; he is my half…brother; the son of my mother; but not of my father。
Then he is and is not your brother。
Not by the same father; my good man; I said; for Chaeredemus was his father; and mine was Sophroniscus。
And was Sophroniscus a father; and Chaeredemus also?
Yes; I said; the former was my father; and the latter his。
Then; he said; Chaeredemus is not a father。
He is not my father; I said。
But can a father be other than a father? or are you the same as a stone?
I certainly do not think that I am a stone; I said; though I am afraid that you may prove me to be one。
Are you not other than a stone?
I am。
And being other than a stone; you are not a stone; and being other than gold; you are not gold?
Very true。
And so Chaeredemus; he said; being other than a father; is not a father?
I suppose that he is not a father; I replied。
For if; said Euthydemus; taking up the argument; Chaeredemus is a father; then Sophroniscus; being other than a father; is not a father; and you; Socrates; are without a father。
Ctesippus; here taking up the argument; said: And is not your father in the same case; for he is other than my father?
Assuredly not; said Euthydemus。
Then he is the same?
He is the same。
I cannot say that I like the connection; but is he only my father; Euthydemus; or is he the father of all other men?
Of all other men; he replied。 Do you suppose the same person to be a father and not a father?
Certainly; I did so imagine; said Ctesippus。
And do you suppose that gold is not gold; or that a man is not a man?
They are not 'in pari materia;' Euthydemus; said Ctesippus; and you had better take care