gorgias-第9章
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se； that is to say； in pleasure or utility or both？ Pol。 Very true。 Soc。 And of two deformed things； that which exceeds in deformity or disgrace； exceeds either in pain or evil…must it not be so？ Pol。 Yes。 Soc。 But then again； what was the observation which you just now made； about doing and suffering wrong？ Did you not say； that suffering wrong was more evil； and doing wrong more disgraceful？ Pol。 I did。 Soc。 Then； if doing wrong is more disgraceful than suffering； the more disgraceful must be more painful and must exceed in pain or in evil or both： does not that also follow？ Pol。 Of course。 Soc。 First； then； let us consider whether the doing of injustice exceeds the suffering in the consequent pain： Do the injurers suffer more than the injured？ Pol。 No； Socrates； certainly not。 Soc。 Then they do not exceed in pain？ Pol。 No。 Soc。 But if not in pain； then not in both？ Pol。 Certainly not。 Soc。 Then they can only exceed in the other？ Pol。 Yes。 Soc。 That is to say； in evil？ Pol。 True。 Soc。 Then doing injustice will have an excess of evil； and will therefore be a greater evil than suffering injustice？ Pol。 Clearly。 Soc。 But have not you and the world already agreed that to do injustice is more disgraceful than to suffer？ Pol。 Yes。 Soc。 And that is now discovered to be more evil？ Pol。 True。 Soc。 And would you prefer a greater evil or a greater dishonour to a less one？ Answer； Polus； and fear not； for you will come to no harm if you nobly resign yourself into the healing hand of the argument as to a physician without shrinking； and either say 〃Yes〃 or 〃No〃 to me。 Pol。 I should say 〃No。〃 Soc。 Would any other man prefer a greater to a less evil？ Pol。 No； not according to this way of putting the case； Socrates。 Soc。 Then I said truly； Polus that neither you； nor I； nor any man； would rather； do than suffer injustice； for to do injustice is the greater evil of the two。 Pol。 That is the conclusion。 Soc。 You see； Polus； when you compare the two kinds of refutations； how unlike they are。 All men； with the exception of myself； are of your way of thinking； but your single assent and witness are enough for me…I have no need of any other； I take your suffrage； and am regardless of the rest。 Enough of this； and now let us proceed to the next question； which is； Whether the greatest of evils to a guilty man is to suffer punishment； as you supposed； or whether to escape punishment is not a greater evil； as I supposed。 Consider：…You would say that to suffer punishment is another name for being justly corrected when you do wrong？ Pol。 I should。 Soc。 And would you not allow that all just things are honourable in so far as they are just？ Please to reflect； and； tell me your opinion。 Pol。 Yes； Socrates； I think that they are。 Soc。 Consider again：…Where there is an agent； must there not also be a patient？ Pol。 I should say so。 Soc。 And will not the patient suffer that which the agent does； and will not the suffering have the quality of the action？ I mean； for example； that if a man strikes； there must be something which is stricken？ Pol。 Yes。 Soc。 And if the striker strikes violently or quickly； that which is struck will he struck violently or quickly？ Pol。 True。 Soc。 And the suffering to him who is stricken is of the same nature as the act of him who strikes？ Pol。 Yes。 Soc。 And if a man burns； there is something which is burned？ Pol。 Certainly。 Soc。 And if he burns in excess or so as to cause pain； the thing burned will be burned in the same way？ Pol。 Truly。 Soc。 And if he cuts； the same argument holds…there will be something cut？ Pol。 Yes。 Soc。 And if the cutting be great or deep or such as will cause pain； the cut will be of the same nature？ Pol。 That is evident。 Soc。 Then you would agree generally to the universal proposition which I was just now asserting： that the affection of the patient answers to the affection of the agent？ Pol。 I agree。 Soc。 Then； as this is admitted； let me ask whether being punished is suffering or acting？ Pol。 Suffering； Socrates； there can be no doubt of that。 Soc。 And suffering implies an agent？ Pol。 Certainly； Socrates； and he is the punisher。 Soc。 And he who punishes rightly； punishes justly？ Pol。 Yes。 Soc。 And therefore he acts justly？ Pol。 Justly。 Soc。 Then he who is punished and suffers retribution； suffers justly？ Pol。 That is evident。 Soc。 And that which is just has been admitted to be honourable？ Pol。 Certainly。 Soc。 Then the punisher does what is honourable； and the punished suffers what is honourable？ Pol。 True。 Soc。 And if what is honourable； then what is good； for the honourable is either pleasant or useful？ Pol。 Certainly。 Soc。 Then he who is punished suffers what is good？ Pol。 That is true。 Soc。 Then he is benefited？ Pol。 Yes。 Soc。 Do I understand you to mean what I mean by the term 〃benefited〃？ I mean； that if he be justly punished his soul is improved。 Pol。 Surely。 Soc。 Then he who is punished is delivered from the evil of his soul？ Pol。 Yes。 Soc。 And is he not then delivered from the greatest evil？ Look at the matter in this way：…In respect of a man's estate； do you see any greater evil than poverty？ Pol。 There is no greater evil。 Soc。 Again； in a man's bodily frame； you would say that the evil is weakness and disease and deformity？ Pol。 I should。 Soc。 And do you not imagine that the soul likewise has some evil of her own？ Pol。 Of course。 Soc。 And this you would call injustice and ignorance and cowardice； and the like？ Pol。 Certainly。 Soc。 So then； in mind； body； and estate； which are three； you have pointed out three corresponding evils…injustice； disease； poverty？ Pol。 True。 Soc。 And which of the evils is the most disgraceful？…Is not the most disgraceful of them injustice； and in general the evil of the soul？ Pol。 By far the most。 Soc。 And if the most disgraceful； then also the worst？ Pol。 What do you mean； Socrates？ Soc。 I mean to say； that is most disgraceful has been already admitted to be most painful or hurtful； or both。 Pol。 Certainly。 Soc。 And now injustice and all evil in the soul has been admitted by to be most disgraceful？ Pol。 It has been admitted。 Soc。 And most disgraceful either because most painful and causing excessive pain； or most hurtful； or both？ Pol。 Certainly。 Soc。 And therefore to be unjust and intemperate； and cowardly and ignorant； is more painful than to be poor and sick？ Pol。 Nay； Socrates； the painfulness does not appear to me to follow from your premises。 Soc。 Then； if； as you would argue； not more painful； the evil of the soul is of all evils the most disgraceful； and the excess of disgrace must be caused by some preternatural greatness； or extraordinary hurtfulness of the evil。 Pol。 Clearly。 Soc。 And that which exceeds most in hurtfulness will be the greatest of evils？ Pol。 Yes。 Soc。 Then injustice and intemperance； and in general the depravity of the soul； are the greatest of evils！ Pol。 That is evident。 Soc。 Now； what art is there which delivers us from poverty？ Does not the art of making money？ Pol。 Yes。 Soc。 And what art frees us from disease？ Does not the art of medicine？ Pol。 Very true。 Soc。 And what from vice and injustice？ If you are not able to answer at once； ask yourself whither we go with the sick； and to whom we take them。 Pol。 To the physicians； Socrates。 Soc。 And to whom do we go with the unjust and intemperate？ Pol。 To the judges； you mean。 Soc。 …Who are to punish them？ Pol。 Yes。 Soc。 And do not those who rightly punish others； punish them in accordance with a certain rule of justice？ Pol。 Clearly。 Soc。 Then the art of money…making frees a man from poverty； medicine from disease； and justice from intemperance and injustice？ Pol。 That is evident。 Soc。 Which； then； is the best of these three？ Pol。 Will you enumerate them？ Soc。 Money…making； medicine； and justice。 Pol。 Justice； Socrates； far excels the two others。 Soc。 And justice； if the best； gives the greatest pleasure or advantage or both？ Pol。 Yes。 Soc。 But is the being healed a pleasant thing； and are those who are being healed pleased？ Pol。 I think not。 Soc。 A use
