Platos Gorgias
POLUS: That is evident.
POLUS: That is evident.
SOCRATES: Then you would agree generally to the uni-SOCRATES: And that which is just has been admitted to versal proposition which I was just now asserting: that the be honourable?
affection of the patient answers to the affection of the agent?
POLUS: Certainly.
POLUS: I agree.
SOCRATES: Then the punisher does what is honourable, SOCRATES: Then, as this is admitted, let me ask whether and the punished suffers what is honourable?
being punished is suffering or acting?
POLUS: True.
POLUS: Suffering, Socrates; there can be no doubt of that.
SOCRATES: And if what is honourable, then what is good, SOCRATES: And suffering implies an agent?
for the honourable is either pleasant or useful?
POLUS: Certainly, Socrates; and he is the punisher.
POLUS: Certainly.
SOCRATES: And he who punishes rightly, punishes justly?
SOCRATES: Then he who is punished suffers what is good?
POLUS: Yes.
POLUS: That is true.
SOCRATES: And therefore he acts justly?
SOCRATES: Then he is benefited?
POLUS: Justly.
POLUS: Yes.
SOCRATES: Then he who is punished and suffers retribution, suffers justly?
SOCRATES: Do I understand you to mean what I mean 95
Platos Gorgias
by the term benefited? I mean, that if he be justly pun-rance and cowardice, and the like?
ished his soul is improved.
POLUS: Certainly.
POLUS: Surely.
SOCRATES: So then, in mind, body, and estate, which SOCRATES: Then he who is punished is delivered from are three, you have pointed out three corresponding evils
the evil of his soul?
injustice, disease, poverty?
POLUS: Yes.
POLUS: True.
SOCRATES: And is he not then delivered from the great-SOCRATES: And which of the evils is the most disgrace-est evil? Look at the matter in this way:In respect of a ful?Is not the most disgraceful of them injustice, and in mans estate, do you see any greater evil than poverty?
general the evil of the soul?
POLUS: There is no greater evil.
POLUS: By far the most.
SOCRATES: Again, in a mans bodily frame, you would SOCRATES: And if the most disgraceful, then also the worst?
say that the evil is weakness and disease and deformity?
POLUS: What do you mean, Socrates?
POLUS: I should.
SOCRATES: I mean to say, that is most disgraceful has SOCRATES: And do you not imagine that the soul like-been already admitted to be most painful or hurtful, or both.
wise has some evil of her own?
POLUS: Certainly.
POLUS: Of course.
SOCRATES: And now injustice and all evil in the soul has SOCRATES: And this you would call injustice and igno-been admitted by us to be most disgraceful?