charmides-第13章
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was just now saying; that all craftsmen make or do something?
I do。
And do they make or do their own business only; or that of others also?
They make or do that of others also。
And are they temperate; seeing that they make not for themselves or their
own business only?
Why not? he said。
No objection on my part; I said; but there may be a difficulty on his who
proposes as a definition of temperance; 'doing one's own business;' and
then says that there is no reason why those who do the business of others
should not be temperate。
Nay (The English reader has to observe that the word 'make' (Greek); in
Greek; has also the sense of 'do' (Greek)。); said he; did I ever
acknowledge that those who do the business of others are temperate? I
said; those who make; not those who do。
What! I asked; do you mean to say that doing and making are not the same?
No more; he replied; than making or working are the same; thus much I have
learned from Hesiod; who says that 'work is no disgrace。' Now do you
imagine that if he had meant by working and doing such things as you were
describing; he would have said that there was no disgrace in themfor
example; in the manufacture of shoes; or in selling pickles; or sitting for
hire in a house of ill…fame? That; Socrates; is not to be supposed: but I
conceive him to have distinguished making from doing and work; and; while
admitting that the making anything might sometimes become a disgrace; when
the employment was not honourable; to have thought that work was never any
disgrace at all。 For things nobly and usefully made he called works; and
such makings he called workings; and doings; and he must be supposed to
have called such things only man's proper business; and what is hurtful;
not his business: and in that sense Hesiod; and any other wise man; may be
reasonably supposed to call him wise who does his own work。
O Critias; I said; no sooner had you opened your mouth; than I pretty well
knew that you would call that which is proper to a man; and that which is
his own; good; and that the makings (Greek) of the good you would call
doings (Greek); for I am no stranger to the endless distinctions which
Prodicus draws about names。 Now I have no objection to your giving names
any signification which you please; if you will only tell me what you mean
by them。 Please then to begin again; and be a little plainer。 Do you mean
that this doing or making; or whatever is the word which you would use; of
good actions; is temperance?
I do; he said。
Then not he who does evil; but he who does good; is temperate?
Yes; he said; and you; friend; would agree。
No matter whether I should or not; just now; not what I think; but what you
are saying; is the point at issue。
Well; he answered; I mean to say; that he who does evil; and not good; is
not temperate; and that he is temperate who does good; and not evil: for
temperance I define in plain words to be the doing of good actions。
And you may be very likely right in what you are saying; but I am curious
to know whether you imagine that temperate men are ignorant of their own
temperance?
I do not think so; he said。
And yet were you not saying; just now; that craftsmen might be temperate in
doing another's work; as well as in doing their own?
I was; he replied; but what is your drift?
I have no particular drift; but I wish that you would tell me whether a
physician who cures a patient may do good to himself and good to another
also?
I think that he may。
And he who does so does his duty?
Yes。
And does not he who does his duty act temperately or wisely?
Yes; he acts wisely。
But must the physician necessarily know when his treatment is likely to
prove beneficial; and when not? or must the craftsman necessarily know when
he is likely to be benefited; and when not to be benefited; by the work
which he is doing?
I suppose not。
Then; I said; he may sometimes do good or harm; and not know what he is
himself doing; and yet; in doing good; as you say; he has done temperately
or wisely。 Was not that your statement?
Yes。
Then; as would seem; in doing good; he may act wisely or temperately; and
be wise or temperate; but not know his own wisdom or temperance?
But that; Socrates; he said; is impossible; and therefore if this is; as
you imply; the necessary consequence of any of my previous admissions; I
will withdraw them; rather than admit that a man can be temperate or wise
who does not know himself; and I am not ashamed to confess that I was in
error。 For self…knowledge would certainly be maintained by me to be the
very essence of knowledge; and in this I agree with him who dedicated the
inscription; 'Know thyself!' at Delphi。 That word; if I am not mistaken;
is put there as a sort of salutation which the god addresses to those who
enter the temple; as much as to say that the ordinary salutation of 'Hail!'
is not right; and that the exhortation 'Be temperate!' would be a far
better way of saluting one another。 The notion of him who dedicated the
inscription was; as I believe; that the god speaks to those who enter his
temple; not as men speak; but; when a worshipper enters; the first word
which he hears is 'Be temperate!' This; however; like a prophet he
expresses in a sort of riddle; for 'Know thyself!' and 'Be temperate!' are
the same; as I maintain; and as the letters imply (Greek); and yet they may
be easily misunderstood; and succeeding sages who added 'Never too much;'
or; 'Give a pledge; and evil is nigh at hand;' would appear to have so
misunderstood them; for they imagined that 'Know thyself!' was a piece of
advice which the god gave; and not his salutation of the worshippers at
their first coming in; and they dedicated their own inscription under the
idea that they too would give equally useful pieces of advice。 Shall I
tell you; Socrates; why I say all this? My object is to leave the previous
discussion (in which I know not whether you or I are more right; but; at
any rate; no clear result was attained); and to raise a new one in which I
will attempt to prove; if you deny; that temperance is self…knowledge。
Yes; I said; Critias; but you come to me as though I professed to know
about the questions which I ask; and as though I could; if I only would;
agree with you。 Whereas the fact is that I enquire with you into the truth
of that which is advanced from time to time; just because I do not know;
and when I have enquired; I will say whether I agree with you or not。
Please then to allow me time to reflect。
Reflect; he said。
I am reflecting; I replied; and discover that temperance; or wisdom; if
implying a knowledge of anything; must be a science; and a science of
something。
Yes; he said; the science of itself。
Is not medicine; I said; the science of health?
True。
And suppose; I said; that I were asked by you what is the use or effect of
medicine; which is this science of health; I should answer that medicine is
of very great use in producing health; which; as you will admit; is an
excellent effect。
Granted。
And if you were to ask me; what is the result or effect of architecture;
which is the science of building; I should say houses; and so of o