登陆注册
15793900000008

第8章

SOCRATES: But, friend Euthyphro, if that which is holy is the same with that which is dear to God, and is loved because it is holy, then that which is dear to God would have been loved as being dear to God; but if that which is dear to God is dear to him because loved by him, then that which is holy would have been holy because loved by him. But now you see that the reverse is the case, and that they are quite different from one another. For one (theophiles) is of a kind to be loved cause it is loved, and the other (osion) is loved because it is of a kind to be loved. Thus you appear to me, Euthyphro, when I ask you what is the essence of holiness, to offer an attribute only, and not the essence--the attribute of being loved by all the gods. But you still refuse to explain to me the nature of holiness. And therefore, if you please, I will ask you not to hide your treasure, but to tell me once more what holiness or piety really is, whether dear to the gods or not (for that is a matter about which we will not quarrel); and what is impiety?

EUTHYPHRO: I really do not know, Socrates, how to express what I mean.

For somehow or other our arguments, on whatever ground we rest them, seem to turn round and walk away from us.

SOCRATES: Your words, Euthyphro, are like the handiwork of my ancestor Daedalus; and if I were the sayer or propounder of them, you might say that my arguments walk away and will not remain fixed where they are placed because I am a descendant of his. But now, since these notions are your own, you must find some other gibe, for they certainly, as you yourself allow, show an inclination to be on the move.

EUTHYPHRO: Nay, Socrates, I shall still say that you are the Daedalus who sets arguments in motion; not I, certainly, but you make them move or go round, for they would never have stirred, as far as I am concerned.

SOCRATES: Then I must be a greater than Daedalus: for whereas he only made his own inventions to move, I move those of other people as well. And the beauty of it is, that I would rather not. For I would give the wisdom of Daedalus, and the wealth of Tantalus, to be able to detain them and keep them fixed. But enough of this. As I perceive that you are lazy, I will myself endeavour to show you how you might instruct me in the nature of piety; and I hope that you will not grudge your labour. Tell me, then--Is not that which is pious necessarily just?

EUTHYPHRO: Yes.

SOCRATES: And is, then, all which is just pious? or, is that which is pious all just, but that which is just, only in part and not all, pious?

EUTHYPHRO: I do not understand you, Socrates.

SOCRATES: And yet I know that you are as much wiser than I am, as you are younger. But, as I was saying, revered friend, the abundance of your wisdom makes you lazy. Please to exert yourself, for there is no real difficulty in understanding me. What I mean I may explain by an illustration of what I do not mean. The poet (Stasinus) sings--'Of Zeus, the author and creator of all these things, You will not tell: for where there is fear there is also reverence.'

Now I disagree with this poet. Shall I tell you in what respect?

EUTHYPHRO: By all means.

SOCRATES: I should not say that where there is fear there is also reverence; for I am sure that many persons fear poverty and disease, and the like evils, but I do not perceive that they reverence the objects of their fear.

EUTHYPHRO: Very true.

SOCRATES: But where reverence is, there is fear; for he who has a feeling of reverence and shame about the commission of any action, fears and is afraid of an ill reputation.

EUTHYPHRO: No doubt.

SOCRATES: Then we are wrong in saying that where there is fear there is also reverence; and we should say, where there is reverence there is also fear. But there is not always reverence where there is fear; for fear is a more extended notion, and reverence is a part of fear, just as the odd is a part of number, and number is a more extended notion than the odd. Isuppose that you follow me now?

EUTHYPHRO: Quite well.

SOCRATES: That was the sort of question which I meant to raise when Iasked whether the just is always the pious, or the pious always the just;and whether there may not be justice where there is not piety; for justice is the more extended notion of which piety is only a part. Do you dissent?

EUTHYPHRO: No, I think that you are quite right.

SOCRATES: Then, if piety is a part of justice, I suppose that we should enquire what part? If you had pursued the enquiry in the previous cases;for instance, if you had asked me what is an even number, and what part of number the even is, I should have had no difficulty in replying, a number which represents a figure having two equal sides. Do you not agree?

EUTHYPHRO: Yes, I quite agree.

SOCRATES: In like manner, I want you to tell me what part of justice is piety or holiness, that I may be able to tell Meletus not to do me injustice, or indict me for impiety, as I am now adequately instructed by you in the nature of piety or holiness, and their opposites.

EUTHYPHRO: Piety or holiness, Socrates, appears to me to be that part of justice which attends to the gods, as there is the other part of justice which attends to men.

SOCRATES: That is good, Euthyphro; yet still there is a little point about which I should like to have further information, What is the meaning of 'attention'? For attention can hardly be used in the same sense when applied to the gods as when applied to other things. For instance, horses are said to require attention, and not every person is able to attend to them, but only a person skilled in horsemanship. Is it not so?

EUTHYPHRO: Certainly.

SOCRATES: I should suppose that the art of horsemanship is the art of attending to horses?

EUTHYPHRO: Yes.

SOCRATES: Nor is every one qualified to attend to dogs, but only the huntsman?

EUTHYPHRO: True.

SOCRATES: And I should also conceive that the art of the huntsman is the art of attending to dogs?

EUTHYPHRO: Yes.

SOCRATES: As the art of the oxherd is the art of attending to oxen?

EUTHYPHRO: Very true.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 异界狙杀

    异界狙杀

    原中华人民共和国解放军某特种部队狙击手东方隼,为完成逝去女友辛薇的遗愿携女友骨灰攀登珠穆朗玛峰,遇险坠崖,与女友双双灵魂穿越到尼古拉世界,在尼古拉世界东方隼为找到辛薇足迹踏遍凡界、仙界、鬼界、妖界、魔界五界最终在神界相遇。完成了这一段史诗一样的爱情。
  • Abraham Lincoln

    Abraham Lincoln

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • tfboys之踮起脚尖够到爱

    tfboys之踮起脚尖够到爱

    故事的开始是他喜欢我我不喜欢他故事的最后是我喜欢他但他走了不知道你准备如何度过你冗长的一生抑或你依旧喜欢我趁你青春年少抑或你忘了我等你白发苍苍人生的每一次都不是彩排所以后悔药是卖给童话人物的并不存在于现实好吧其实我只想告诉你我很想你
  • 洛城志

    洛城志

    一片荒无人烟的土地,一群一无所有的乞丐,一个将乱未乱的天下,一场山雨欲来的变革。一段生死不负的友情,一份刻骨铭心的爱情,当这一切全都被卷入权力纷争的漩涡,他会做出怎样的抉择?他又能否守住那一颗初心?
  • 一个鬼子也不留

    一个鬼子也不留

    人在城在,人亡城亡!在日本帝国主义的军刀下,将曾经用鲜血捍卫的誓言,划割地支离破碎。誓死不做亡国奴!在刑具前的威逼利诱中,将曾经最崇尚的信仰,换取了苟延残喘。尊老爱幼!在一群群畜生面前,将华夏五千年的优良传统,践踏于蹄下。一块手表,带着都市少年陈子豪,来到了战火纷飞的抗日年代,在这人性没有任何遮掩的岁月,目睹祖国河山遍地狼烟,他浴血奋战,只因国家兴亡,匹夫有责!铭记家恨,勿忘国耻。
  • 英雄联盟之无限火力

    英雄联盟之无限火力

    因为我的生命即将陨灭,所以我将他给了你;不知道接下来的路会如何,既然这样选择了就一起走下去吧;鬼神,电竞,高不可攀的女神,一个普通却又不普通的少年和这些元素会发生怎样的碰撞呢?选择金钱,还是梦想?这是一个问题。你如果看不起我,那么是在英雄联盟上一较高下,还是你想直接动手,我都奉陪!莫欺少年穷!生命不息,战斗不止!唯一书友交流群:488319115
  • 绝品保镖俏校花

    绝品保镖俏校花

    他是华夏隐龙,军中之冠。因一次任务违抗了上级命令,勒令退役。回归都市的他怀揣着挣钱娶老婆,生娃暖床的平凡梦。且看他如何护花,披荆斩棘,龙游天际,走上人生巅峰!【新书需要大家的呵护求收藏求推荐】
  • 圣樱梦殇贵族学院

    圣樱梦殇贵族学院

    萌萌哒的云小诺崛起,博得男神学霸的芳心···片段——“瓦特?!瓦特?!”面对面前那个长的如此妖孽的男神学霸的邀请,云小诺慌了,脸上多了不一样的红晕~是妖孽学霸追可爱兔,还是相反呢?小喵会努力的,但是小喵现在是学生,或许会耽搁大家看小说,希望喵呜们可以体谅,最后给你们么么么~
  • 永远的赞美诗

    永远的赞美诗

    在神的指引下,获得文明的人类付出惨重代价后,终于战胜了恶魔,赢得和平。然而千年之后,时至和平崩溃边缘,一场蓄意谋划的灾难袭击了正在举办盛宴的王宫。宁静的生活一去不复返,为了保护柔弱的妹妹,克库洛王国第三公主,年仅13岁的莉采儿挺身而出。带着从无尽沉眠中苏醒的骑士,向着从未踏足过的首都外界、那未知的世界,迈出小小的步伐……
  • 九天战戈

    九天战戈

    天地初生,天地迎来一场巨大浩劫,不得已将自身分为九块!但希望有一天可以变回一块完整大陆,一切的一切将从昊天开始。