Plato and the Other Companions of Sokrates, 3rd ed. Volume 2

Confusion of Sokrates. He suggests, That the Indifferent (neither good nor evil) is friend to the Good

180

Suggestion canvassed. If the Indifferent is friend to the Good, it is determined to become so by the contact of felt evil, from which it is anxious to escape

180

Principle illustrated by the philosopher. His intermediate condition — not wise, yet painfully feeling his own ignorance

181

Sokrates dissatisfied. He originates a new suggestion. The Primum Amabile, or object originally dear to us, per se: by relation or resemblance to which other objects become dear

The cause of love is desire. We desire that which is akin to us or our own

182

Good is of a nature akin to every one, evil is alien to every one. Inconsistency with what has been previously laid down

183

Failure of the enquiry. Close of the dialogue

184

Remarks. No positive result. Sokratic purpose in analysing the familiar words — to expose the false persuasion of knowledge

Subject of Lysis. Suited for a Dialogue of Search. Manner of Sokrates, multiplying defective explanations, and showing reasons why each is defective

185

The process of trial and error is better illustrated by a search without result than with result. Usefulness of the dialogue for self-working minds

186

Subject of friendship, handled both by the Xenophontic Sokrates, and by Aristotle

Debate in the Lysis partly verbal, partly real. Assumptions made by the Platonic Sokrates, questionable, such as the real Sokrates would have found reason for challenging

188

Peculiar theory about friendship broached by Sokrates. Persons neither good nor evil by nature, yet having a superficial tinge of evil, and desiring good to escape from it

189

This general theory illustrated by the case of the philosopher or lover of wisdom. Painful consciousness of ignorance the attribute of the philosopher. Value set by Sokrates and Plato upon this attribute

190

Another theory of Sokrates. The Primum Amabile, or original and primary object of Love. Particular objects are loved through association with this. The object is Good

191

Statement by Plato of the general law of mental association

Theory of the Primum Amabile, here introduced by Sokrates, with numerous derivative objects of love. Platonic Idea. Generic communion of Aristotle, distinguished by him from the feebler analogical communion

192

Primum Amabile of Plato, compared with the Prima Amicitia of Aristotle. Each of them is head of an analogical aggregate, not member of a generic family

194

The Good and Beautiful, considered as objects of attachment

CHAPTER XXI.

EUTHYDEMUS.