Works of Plato, Volume 13

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EPINOMIS

THE PHILOSOPHER.

CLINIAS. We are gathered here all three, as we agreed, you, Megillus, and I, to examine in what manner we shall treat of that part of prudence practical wisdom which, in our opinion, would perfectly prepare the man who has grasped it to acquire all the wisdom sophia; theoretical wisdom of which human nature is capable. For as for all that relates otherwise to legislation, we have treated it sufficiently, as it seems to us. But this question, the most important that one can agitate and resolve, I mean what sciences can make a wise man out of a mortal man, we have neither agitated nor resolved. Let us approach it today; otherwise we would leave imperfect a work that we have all undertaken with the resolution to explain ourselves with clarity from the beginning to the end.
THE ATHENIAN. That is well said, my dear Clinias; however, you are going to hear a discourse that will seem strange to you, although in certain respects it is not. Most of