lesser hippias-第4节
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SOCRATES： And are they wily； and do they deceive by reason of their
simplicity and folly； or by reason of their cunning and a certain sort of
prudence？
HIPPIAS： By reason of their cunning and prudence； most certainly。
SOCRATES： Then they are prudent； I suppose？
HIPPIAS： So they arevery。
SOCRATES： And if they are prudent； do they know or do they not know what
they do？
HIPPIAS： Of course； they know very well； and that is why they do mischief
to others。
SOCRATES： And having this knowledge； are they ignorant； or are they wise？
HIPPIAS： Wise； certainly； at least； in so far as they can deceive。
SOCRATES： Stop； and let us recall to mind what you are saying； are you not
saying that the false are powerful and prudent and knowing and wise in
those things about which they are false？
HIPPIAS： To be sure。
SOCRATES： And the true differ from the falsethe true and the false are
the very opposite of each other？
HIPPIAS： That is my view。
SOCRATES： Then； according to your view； it would seem that the false are
to be ranked in the class of the powerful and wise？
HIPPIAS： Assuredly。
SOCRATES： And when you say that the false are powerful and wise in so far
as they are false； do you mean that they have or have not the power of
uttering their falsehoods if they like？
HIPPIAS： I mean to say that they have the power。
SOCRATES： In a word； then； the false are they who are wise and have the
power to speak falsely？
HIPPIAS： Yes。
SOCRATES： Then a man who has not the power of speaking falsely and is
ignorant cannot be false？
HIPPIAS： You are right。
SOCRATES： And every man has power who does that which he wishes at the
time when he wishes。 I am not speaking of any special case in which he is
prevented by disease or something of that sort； but I am speaking
generally； as I might say of you； that you are able to write my name when
you like。 Would you not call a man able who could do that？
HIPPIAS： Yes。
SOCRATES： And tell me； Hippias； are you not a skilful calculator and
arithmetician？
HIPPIAS： Yes； Socrates； assuredly I am。
SOCRATES： And if some one were to ask you what is the sum of 3 multiplied
by 700； you would tell him the true answer in a moment； if you pleased？
HIPPIAS： certainly I should。
SOCRATES： Is not that because you are the wisest and ablest of men in
these matters？
HIPPIAS： Yes。
SOCRATES： And being as you are the wisest and ablest of men in these
matters of calculation； are you not also the best？
HIPPIAS： To be sure； Socrates； I am the best。
SOCRATES： And therefore you would be the most able to tell the truth about
these matters； would you not？
HIPPIAS： Yes； I should。
SOCRATES： And could you speak falsehoods about them equally well？ I must
beg； Hippias； that you will answer me with the same frankness and
magnanimity which has hitherto characterized you。 If a person were to ask
you what is the sum of 3 multiplied by 700； would not you be the best and
most consistent teller of a falsehood； having always the power of speaking
falsely as you have of speaking truly； about these same matters； if you
wanted to tell a falsehood； and not to answer truly？ Would the ignorant
man be better able to tell a falsehood in matters of calculation than you
would be； if you chose？ Might he not sometimes stumble upon the truth；
when he wanted to tell a lie； because he did not know； whereas you who are
the wise man； if you wanted to tell a lie would always and consistently
lie？
HIPPIAS： Yes； there you are quite right。
SOCRATES： Does the false man tell lies about other things； but not about
number； or when he is making a calculation？
HIPPIAS： To be sure； he would tell as many lies about number as about
other things。
SOCRATES： Then may we further assume； Hippias； that there are men who are
false about calculation and number？
HIPPIAS： Yes。
SOCRATES： Who can they be？ For you have already admitted that he who is
false must have the ability to be false： you said； as you will remember；
that he who is unable to be false will not be false？
HIPPIAS： Yes； I remember； it was so said。
SOCRATES： And were you not yourself just now shown to be best able to
speak falsely about calculation？
HIPPIAS： Yes； that was another thing which was said。
SOCRATES： And are you not likewise said to speak truly about calculation？
HIPPIAS： Certainly。
SOCRATES： Then the same person is able to speak both falsely and truly
about calculation？ And that person is he who is good at calculationthe
arithmetician？
HIPPIAS： Yes。
SOCRATES： Who； then； Hippias； is discovered to be false at calculation？
Is he not the good man？ For the good man is the able man； and he is the
true man。
HIPPIAS： That is evident。
SOCRATES： Do you not see； then； that the same man is false and also true
about the same matters？ And the true man is not a whit better than the
false； for indeed he is the same with him and not the very opposite； as you
were just now imagining。
HIPPIAS： Not in that instance； clearly。
SOCRATES： Shall we examine other instances？
HIPPIAS： Certainly； if you are disposed。
SOCRATES： Are you not also skilled in geometry？
HIPPIAS： I am。
SOCRATES： Well； and does not the same hold in that science also？ Is not
the same person best able to speak falsely or to speak truly about
diagrams； and he isthe geometrician？
HIPPIAS： Yes。
SOCRATES： He and no one else is good at it？
HIPPIAS： Yes； he and no one else。
SOCRATES： Then the good and wise geometer has this double power in the
highest degree； and if there be a man who is false about diagrams the good
man will be he； for he is able to be false； whereas the bad is unable； and
for this reason is not false； as has been admitted。
HIPPIAS： True。
SOCRATES： Once morelet us examine a third case； that of the astronomer；
in whose art； again； you； Hippias； profess to be a still greater proficient
than in the precedingdo you not？
HIPPIAS： Yes； I am。
SOCRATES： And does not the same hold of astronomy？
HIPPIAS： True； Socrates。
SOCRATES： And in astronomy； too； if any man be able to speak falsely he
will be the good astronomer； but he who is not able will not speak falsely；
for he has no knowledge。
HIPPIAS： Clearly not。
SOCRATES： Then in astronomy also； the same man will be true and false？
HIPPIAS： It would seem so。
SOCRATES： And now； Hippias； consider the question at large about all the
sciences； and see whether the same principle does not always hold。 I know
that in most arts you are the wisest of men； as I have heard you boasting
in the agora at the tables of the money…changers； when you were setting
forth the great and enviable stores of your wisdom； and you said that upon
one occasion； when you went to the Olympic games； all that you had on your
person was made by yourself。 You began with your ring； which was of your
own workmanship； and you said that you could engrave rings； and you had
another seal which was also of your own workmanship； and a strigil and an
oil flask； which you had made yourself； you said also that you had made the
shoes which you had on your feet； and the cloak and the short tunic； but
what appeared to us all most extraordinary and a proof of singular art； was
the girdle of your tunic； which； you said； was as fine as the most costly
Persian fabric； and of your own weaving； moreover； you told us that you had
brought with you poems； epic； tragic； and dithyrambic； as well as prose
writings of the most various kinds； and you said that your skill was also
pre…eminent in the arts which I was just now mentioning； and in the true
principles of rhythm and harmony and of orthography； and if I remember
rightly； there were a great many other accomplishments in which you
excelled。 I have forgotten to mention your art of memory； which you regard
as your special glory； and I dare say that I have forgotten many other
things； but； as I was saying； only look to your own artsand there are
plenty of themand to those of others； and tell me； having regard to the
admissions which you and I have made； whether you discover any department
of art or any description of wisdom or cunning； whichever name you use； in
which the true and false are different and not the same： tell me； if you
can； of any。 But you cannot。
HIPPIAS： Not without consideration； Socrates。
SOCRATES： Nor will consideration help you； Hippias； as I believe； but then
if I am right； remember what the consequence will be。
HIPPIAS： I do not know what you mean； Socrates。
SOCRATES： I suppose that you are not using your art of memory； doubtless
because you think that such an accomplishment is not needed on the present
o
