| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Meno by Plato: justice.' But justice is a part of virtue, and therefore virtue is the
getting of good with a part of virtue. The definition repeats the word
defined.
Meno complains that the conversation of Socrates has the effect of a
torpedo's shock upon him. When he talks with other persons he has plenty
to say about virtue; in the presence of Socrates, his thoughts desert him.
Socrates replies that he is only the cause of perplexity in others, because
he is himself perplexed. He proposes to continue the enquiry. But how,
asks Meno, can he enquire either into what he knows or into what he does
not know? This is a sophistical puzzle, which, as Socrates remarks, saves
a great deal of trouble to him who accepts it. But the puzzle has a real
|
The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from The Koran: drinking cup in his brother's pack; then a crier cried out, 'O ye
caravan! verily, ye are thieves!'
They said, approaching them, 'What is it that ye miss?'
Said they, 'We miss the goblet of the king, and whoso brings it
shall have a camel-load, and I am guarantee thereof.'
They said, 'By God! Ye knew we came not to do evil in the land,
and that we were not thieves.'
They said, 'And what shall be the recompense thereof if ye be
liars?'
They said, 'The recompense thereof is he in whose pack it is
found- he shall be the recompense thereof; thus do we recompense the
The Koran |
