| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Lysis by Plato: distinction between property and accident which is a real contribution to
the science of logic. Some higher truths appear through the mist. The
manner in which the field of argument is widened, as in the Charmides and
Laches by the introduction of the idea of knowledge, so here by the
introduction of the good, is deserving of attention. The sense of the
inter-dependence of good and evil, and the allusion to the possibility of
the non-existence of evil, are also very remarkable.
The dialectical interest is fully sustained by the dramatic accompaniments.
Observe, first, the scene, which is a Greek Palaestra, at a time when a
sacrifice is going on, and the Hermaea are in course of celebration;
secondly, the 'accustomed irony' of Socrates, who declares, as in the
Lysis |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Charmides by Plato: where there is comparison--greater, less, heavier, lighter, and the like--a
relation to self as well as to other things involves an absolute
contradiction; and in other cases, as in the case of the senses, is hardly
conceivable. The use of the genitive after the comparative in Greek,
(Greek), creates an unavoidable obscurity in the translation.)
Yes.
Which is less, if the other is conceived to be greater?
To be sure.
And if we could find something which is at once greater than itself, and
greater than other great things, but not greater than those things in
comparison of which the others are greater, then that thing would have the
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Garden Party by Katherine Mansfield: to the shop to get something for her mosquitoes.
"Dear heart!" Mrs. Stubbs had clapped her hand to her side. "I never seen
anyone so eaten. You might have been attacked by canningbals."
Alice did wish there'd been a bit of life on the road though. Made her
feel so queer, having nobody behind her. Made her feel all weak in the
spine. She couldn't believe that some one wasn't watching her. And yet it
was silly to turn round; it gave you away. She pulled up her gloves,
hummed to herself and said to the distant gum-tree, "Shan't be long now."
But that was hardly company.
Mrs. Stubbs's shop was perched on a little hillock just off the road. It
had two big windows for eyes, a broad veranda for a hat, and the sign on
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