Reflect, he said.
That is not the true way of pursuing the enquiry, Socrates, I am reflecting, I replied, and discover that temperance, he said; for wisdom is not like the other sciences, any more or wisdom, if implying a knowledge of anything, must be a than they are like one another: but you proceed as if they science, and a science of something.
were alike. For tell me, he said, what result is there of com-Yes, he said; the science of itself.
putation or geometry, in the same sense as a house is the 17
“Charmides” – Plato
result of building, or a garment of weaving, or any other respect in which they are alike; but they are not, for all the work of any other art? Can you show me any such result of other sciences are of something else, and not of themselves; them? You cannot.
wisdom alone is a science of other sciences, and of itself.
That is true, I said; but still each of these sciences has a And of this, as I believe, you are very well aware: and that subject which is different from the science. I can show you you are only doing what you denied that you were doing just that the art of computation has to do with odd and even now, trying to refute me, instead of pursuing the argument.
numbers in their numerical relations to themselves and to And what if I am? How can you think that I have any each other. Is not that true?
other motive in refuting you but what I should have in Yes, he said.
examining into myself? which motive would be just a fear And the odd and even numbers are not the same with of my unconsciously fancying that I knew something of the art of computation?
which I was ignorant. And at this moment I pursue the They are not.
argument chiefly for my own sake, and perhaps in some The art of weighing, again, has to do with lighter and degree also for the sake of my other friends. For is not the heavier; but the art of weighing is one thing, and the heavy discovery of things as they truly are, a good common to all and the light another. Do you admit that?
mankind?