The Lovers

But, my friend, it is not so: philosophy is not to be understood as being busied with the arts, nor living a life of meddlesome curiosity, nor learning many things, but something else. For I thought it was even a reproach, and that those who were busied with the arts were called banausoi vulgar/mechanics. We shall know more clearly if I speak the truth if you answer this: who are the ones who know how to discipline horses correctly—are they the ones who make them the best, or others? "The ones who make them best." "And what of dogs? Do not those who know how to make them best, also know how to discipline them correctly?" "Yes." "Therefore, the same techne art/craft makes them the best and disciplines them correctly?" "I agree," he said. "Furthermore, does the very same art that makes them better and disciplines them correctly also know how to recognize the good and the base, or is it another?" "The same," he said. "If you are willing to agree to this also regarding men: that the same art which makes men the best is also the one that disciplines them correctly and distinguishes between the good and the wicked?" "Certainly," he said. "Does it not concern one, as well as many? And whoever concerns many, does he not also concern one?" "Yes." "And is it thus with horses and all other things?" "I agree." "What, then, is the science that correctly disciplines those in the cities who are intemperate and lawless? Is it not the dikastike judicial/judging art?" "Yes." "Or do you call justice anything else but this?" "No other." "Therefore, those who know how to discipline correctly are also the ones who recognize the good and the wicked?" "They are." "And whoever recognizes one, will he not also recognize many?" "Yes." "And whoever is ignorant of many, is he not also ignorant of one?" "I agree." "If, then, being a horse, he is ignorant of the wicked and the good, is he not also ignorant of himself and what kind of creature he is?" "I agree."