CONTENTS.
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Grote, George
Conclusion — That none but the good man can do evil wilfully: the bad man does evil unwillingly. Hippias cannot resist the reasoning, but will not accept the conclusion — Sokrates confesses his perplexity
61
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.