A Brace of Brilliant Skits
A couple of days ago we revealed the dozen or so runners-up in our latest (and 7th!) Antigone competition. As you well remember, we asked you to imagine how things would play out if Socrates himself were dragged-and-dropped into the 21st century. Who would he argue with, and how would the conversation go? (Not so well, we may wonder…)
After many hours of thigh-rubbing pleasure and pearl-clutching anguish, we eventually hit upon a final pair of most worthy winners. One is pitched in all-too-realistic management-speak English, and the other sparkles in the Platonic dress of Ancient Greek. We hope you enjoy them as much as we did!
Our winning entry proved to be rather close to the bone for many of the judges, as it sees Socrates striding straight onto the university campus. Its author, who feels that a nom de plume may be a more prudent move in public, carries off the ยฃ250 prize. Many congratulations indeed!
The Vice-Chancellor
(Setting: Cafรฉ in a University management centre, ground floor, somewhere in the Western world.)
Socrates: Hello there, Madam. Where are you off to in such a hurry?
Vice-Chancellor: Whatโs that? To another meeting, of course. I was just grabbing my pm caffeine hit.
(Laughs weakly, walking briskly.)
And to whom am I speaking?
Socrates: Socrates, the son of Sophroniscus, of the Deme of Alopece.
(Vice-Chancellor stops.)
Vice-Chancellor: O, youโre a Dean, did you say? Iโm sorry, I didnโt recognize youโฆ But I donโt think weโve met.
Socrates: A โDeanโ? No. At least, I donโt think so. But from your godlike manner and attire, I can see you are someone of great importance in this City. Perhaps you can help me.
Vice-Chancellor: Important, yes. I am the Vice-Chancellor of this University, in case you didnโt know. No offence, Mr โ was it โSocratesโ? โ but you must excuse me. I have important people waiting for me.
(She makes to start walking away again, towards the nearby elevator.)
Socrates: Just one moment. A โVice-Chancellorโ, did you say? Why, then, you are exactly the kind of person I have been seeking.
(Vice-Chancellor stops again, looking restless.)
You can surely teach me: what is a University?
Vice-Chancellor: What is a University? Where have you been these last thousand years?
Socrates: Please, only answer my question. For I suppose that a Vice-Chancellor must be a kind of statesman of the University world, and someone who would be wise on these matters, if anyone could be.
Vice-Chancellor: Yes, Socrates. They would hardly pay me so handsomely if I did not know a thing or two about what goes on here, would they?
Socrates: I could hardly say. But if you know so much, you above all can make clear to me the nature of this institution which you govern so wisely.
Vice-Chancellor: Socrates, this is a place of education. At least, that’s our advertised core business. Google the Charter.
Socrates: A place of education? Excellent. So, a University then would not be like other institutions, for example, the shops in the agora, where the traders hawk their wares. I mean, because the Universityโs principal aim is education, not selling things, or any other purpose.
Vice-Chancellor: Indeed.
Socrates: And what then is education, your โcore businessโ, as you call it?
Vice-Chancellor: What is education? Whoever in the world doesnโt know that?
Socrates: Socrates does not know, Madam Vice Chancellor. What I am sure of is that you can teach me, if you will shine the light of your wisdom into the darkness of my ignorance.
Vice-Chancellor: Education is the teaching of young people. Mostly youngโฆ we also take fee-paying mature-age enrolments, a good earner.
Socrates: And as the Vice-Chancellor of this University, which is a place of teaching young people (mostly, as you say), am I right in supposing that you must be the wisest amongst all of the teachers who teach here? For how else would you know so much about what goes on? It would be impossible.
Vice-Chancellor: Me, a teacher? By the Budget, no! I have not taught anyone these twenty yearsโฆ
Socrates: Well, surely if the primary goal of this University is teaching, and you know the most about what happens here, as you say (that is why you are paid so nobly), then you must at least know a good deal about teaching, even though you no longer teach yourself.
Vice-Chancellor: Sure. I know our numbers, across the entire raft of our different silos, going forward. And I know the same numbers of our competitors. I know also about our teaching budgets, and the percentage of our income which comes from international and fee-paying students, government subsidies per enrolmentโฆ The trick is always to get the most from the least.
Socrates: I am quite sure it is. Even the least student knows more than they guess. They can always surprise you, can’t they? But here is my problem.
Vice-Chancellor: Thereโs a problem?
Socrates: Yes, forgive me, but nothing of what you just said has helped me understand what the education you are offering here involves.
Vice-Chancellor: What do you mean?
Socrates: Well, imagine if I asked you about training horses. And you said you knew all about it, you ran the entire stable. Then I asked about what this training involved. Youโd say, โWhy, Socrates, itโs about instructing and disciplining the horses, when to go fast, when slow, how to bear a riderโฆโ, and the like.
Vice-Chancellor: Yes.
Socrates: You wouldnโt say: โI know all about it, Socrates. You see, we have fifteen horses, while our competitor has only twelve, and we get this much money from our brown horses, and this much from our greysโฆโ Or would you?
(Vice-Chancellor, now visibly uneasy, begins to edge towards the elevator.)
Vice-Chancellor: Iโm not sure what you mean, Socrates. Look. I was just in the cafรฉ to get my soybean latte. And as I said, right now, there are important people I need to meet, soโฆ
Socrates: You are going to meet some of your teachers? Wonderful! Please, let me come along! I would very much like to converse with them.
Vice-Chancellor: Converse with the teachers? Socrates, most of them have less time than I do. And I hardly think theyโd find this whole question-answer game of yours any more amusing than I have. We donโt pay them to sit in corners and whisper with old men.Not that we pay them any more than we have toโฆ
Socrates: All the same, only let me come up with you in your elevator! Perhaps your teachers will explain to me the purpose of a Universityโฆ
(Vice-Chancellor now loses temper.)
Vice-Chancellor: Listen, Socrates, you old fool, Iโm not going to meet any teachers! As I said, I am meeting important people โ not teachers! Why, if you really want, thereโs hundreds of them around here. Theyโre the young, harried-looking people, or some among them. Just go across campus to the student mall.
But really, I think Iโve been very patient. Now, leave me be, before I call University Security.
(Vice-Chancellor exits at a gallop, into an open elevator, going up.)
Lycinus Secundus, Australia
The second prize also falls to a contestant from Down Under (where there must be something in the water). His remarkable entry sees Socrates engage Stephen Hawking on the questions not just of where the human form and the universe come from but on what aspects of “self-knowledge” matter most, when you really sit down and think about it.
The quality of the Greek prose is truly formidable; one of the judges observes that “in 20 years of teaching and examining Greek prose at university level, I have seen no better Platonic composition, nor any so free from error.” This achievement is all the more astounding, given that its composer is a complete autodidact, who has never had any teaching in Greek (or indeed Latin). As we have said often enough on this website, almost all of the resources (from beginner to expert) that anyone could need for learning Latin and Greek exist freely online. If you really want them, just take them.
ฮฃฯฮญฯฮฑฮฝฮฟฯ, แผข ฮ ฮตฯแฝถ ฯฮฟแฟฆ ฯฮฑฮฝฯฯฯ
ฮฃฮคฮฮฆห ฯฮฌฯฮนฮฝ ฮณฮต แผกฮผแฟฮฝ, แฝฆ ฮฃฯฮบฯฮฑฯฮตฯ, ฯฮฟแฟฯ ฯฮฟฯฮฟแฟฯ ฮดฮตแฟ แผฯฮตฮนฮฝ.
ฮฃฮฉฮห ฯฮฏ ฮดฮฎ, แฝฆ ฮฃฯฮญฯฮฑฮฝฮต;
ฮฃฮคฮฮฆห ฮตแผฐฯฮธฮตฮนฯ ฮณแฝฐฯ ฮฟแฝฮฝ ฯฯฮดฮต แผฮบฮฌฯฯแฟณ ฯฮฑฯฮฑฮบฮตฮปฮตฯฮตฯฮธฮฑฮน, แผฮฑฯ ฯแฝธฮฝ ฮณฮฝแฟถฮฝฮฑฮนยท ฮฟแฝ ฮณฮฌฯ;
ฮฃฮฉฮห ฯฮฑฯฮตฮบฮตฮปฮตฯ ฯฮผฮทฮฝ ฮผฮญฮฝฯฮฟฮน ฮฝแฝด ฮฮฏฮฑ, ฮบฮฑแฝถ แผฯฮน ฮฝแฟฆฮฝ ฯฮฑแฝฯแฝฐ ฯฮฑแฟฆฯฮฑ ฯฮฑฯฮฑฮบฮตฮปฮตฯฮฟฮผฮฑฮน.
ฮฃฮคฮฮฆห แผฮปฮปแฝฐ ฮผแฝฒฮฝ ฮดแฝด ฯแฟท ฮณฮต ฯฮฑแฟฆฯฮฑ แผฯฮนฯฯฮฑฮผฮญฮฝแฟณ ฮบฮฑฮฏ ฯฮต ฮดฮนฮดฮฌฮพฮฑฮน แผฮธฮญฮปฮฟฮฝฯฮน ฯฮฟฮปฮปแฝดฮฝ ฯฮฌฯฮนฮฝ แผฮฝ ฮตแผฐฮดฮตฮฏฮทฯ;
ฮฃฮฉฮห ฯฮปฮตฮฏฯฯฮทฮฝ ฮผแฝฒฮฝ ฮฟแฝฮฝ.
ฮฃฮคฮฮฆห แผฮผฮฟฮฏ ฯแพฝ แผฯฮฑ, แฝฆ ฮฃฯฮบฯฮฑฯฮตฯ, ฯฮปฮตฮฏฯฯฮทฮฝ ฮดฮตแฟ แผฯฮฟฮดฮฟแฟฆฮฝฮฑฮน ฯฮฌฯฮนฮฝ ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฯฮฟแฟฯ แผฮปฮปฮฟฮนฯ ฯฮฟฯฮฟแฟฯ, ฮฟแผตฯฮตฯ ฮฟแฝฮฝ ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฯแฝฐ ฯฮฟฮนฮฑแฟฆฯฮฑ ฯฮฌฮฝฯฮฑ ฮดฮนฮฑฯฮตฯฯฮฝฯฯฯ แผดฯฮผฮตฮฝ.
ฮฃฮฉฮห แผฉฯฮฌฮบฮปฮตฮนฯยท ฮฟแฝฮบฮฟแฟฆฮฝ ฯแฝบ ฮดแฝด ฮฟแผดฮตฮน ฯฮฑฯ ฯแฝธฮฝ ฮณฮฝแฟถฮฝฮฑฮน;
ฮฃฮคฮฮฆห ฮฟแฝ ฮผฯฮฝฮฟฮฝ ฮณฮต, แผฮปฮปแฝฐ ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฮฟแผถฮดฮฑยท ฮฝแฟฆฮฝ ฮผแฝฒฮฝ ฮฟแฝฮฝ ฯฮฑแฟฆฯฮฌ ฯฮฟฮน แผฮฝ แผฮฝฮดฮตฮนฮพฮฑฮฏฮผฮทฮฝ, ฮตแผฐ ฮฒฮฟฯฮปฮตฮน, แผฮปฮปแฝฐ ฮผฮญฮฝฯฮฟฮน ฮตแผด ฮณฮต แผฯฯฮฟฮปฮฏฮฑฮฝ แผฮณฮตฮนฯ, ฮตแผฐฯ ฮฑแฝฮธฮนฯ แผฮฝฮฑฮปฮฌฮฒฯฮผฮตฮฝ ฮฑแฝฯฮฌ.
ฮฃฮฉฮห แผคฮดฮท ฯฮฟฮฏฮฝฯ ฮฝ, แฝฆ ฮผฮฑฮบฮฌฯฮนฮต, ฯฮฑฯฯฮทฮฝ ฮผฮต ฮดฮฏฮดฮฑฮพฮฟฮฝ ฯแฝดฮฝ แผฯฮนฯฯฮฎฮผฮทฮฝยท ฮฟแฝ ฮณแฝฐฯ ฯฯฯฮฟฯฮต ฮตแผฐฯ ฯฮฟฯฮฟแฟฆฯฮฟฮฝ ฮผฮตฮณฮฑฮปฮฟฯฯฮฟฯฯฮฝฮทฯ แผฆฮปฮธฮฟฮฝ แฝฅฯฯฮต ฮผฮฎฯฮต แผฮธฮตฮปแฟฯฮฑฮน ฯฮฑฯแพฝ แผฮปฮปฯฮฝ ฮผฮฑฮธฮตแฟฮฝ, ฮผฮฎฯฮต ฯแฟท ฮดฮนฮดฮฌฮพฮฑฮฝฯฮน แผฯฮฟฮดฮฟแฟฆฮฝฮฑฮน ฯฮฌฯฮนฮฝ.
ฮฃฮคฮฮฆห ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฮผฮฎฮฝ, แฝฆ ฮฃฯฮบฯฮฑฯฮตฯ, ฯฮฟฮปฮปแฝฐ ฮดแฝด ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฮธฮฑฯ ฮผฮฌฯฮนฮฑ ฮทแฝฯฮฎฮบฮฑฮผฮตฮฝ ฮฟแผฑ ฯฮฟฯฮฟแฝถ แผกฮผฮตแฟฯ, ฮฟแฝ ฮผแฝดฮฝ แผฮปฮปแฝฐ ฮผฮนแพท ฮณฮต ฮผฮตฮธฯฮดแฟณ ฯฯฯฮผฮตฮฝฮฟฮน ฮผฯฮฝฮฟฮฝยท แฝ ฯแฟณ ฮผแฝฒฮฝ ฮณแฝฐฯ แผฮฝ แผ ฯฮตฯ แฝฯฮตฮธฮญฮผฮตฮธฮฑ แฝกฯ แผฮปฮทฮธแฟ แฝฮฝฯฮฑ ฯฮฑแฟฯ ฮณแพฝ แผฮผฯฮตฮนฯฮฏฮฑฮนฯ ฮฒฮฑฯฮฑฮฝฮนฯฮธฮญฮฝฯฮฑ ฮผแพถฮปฮปฮฟฮฝ ฮฒฮตฮฒฮฑฮนแฟถฯฮฑฮน, ฯฮฟฯฮฟฯฯแฟณ ฮผแพถฮปฮปฮฟฮฝ ฮตแผฐฮบแฝธฯ ฯฮฑแฟฆฮธแพฝ แผกฮณฮฟฯฮผฮตฮธฮฑ ฮตแผถฮฝฮฑฮน, แผฮปฮปแพฝ ฮฟแฝฮฝ ฮดแฝด ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฯแผฮปฮปฮฑ ฯฮฑฮฏฯฮตฮนฮฝ แผแฟถฮผฮตฮฝ ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฯแฝฐ ฯแฟถฮฝ ฯฮนฮปฮฟฯฯฯฯฮฝ ฮผฮฌฯฮฑฮนฮฑ. ฯฮฑฮณฮบฮฌฮปฯฯ ฮณฮฟแฟฆฮฝ ฯแฝธ ฯฮฟแฟฆ ฮแฝฯฮนฯฮฏฮดฮฟฯ ฮดฮฟฮบฮตแฟ ฮปฮญฮณฮตฯฮธฮฑฮน, แฝกฯ แผฯฮฑ
โแฝฯ ฮดแพฝ ฮตแฝฮณฮปฯฯฯฮฏแพณ
ฮฝฮนฮบแพท, ฯฮฟฯแฝธฯ ยตฮญฮฝ, แผฮปฮปแพฝ แผฮณแฝผ ฯแฝฐ ฯฯฮฌฮณยตฮฑฯฮฑ
ฮบฯฮตฮฏฯฯฯ ฮฝฮฟยตฮฏฮถฯ ฯแฟถฮฝ ฮปฯฮณฯฮฝ แผฮตฮฏ ฯฮฟฯฮต.โ
แผฮปฮปแพฝ ฮฟแฝฮฝ, ฯฮฑฮฏฮท ฯฮนฯ แผฮฝ, ฯฮฏ ฯฮฟฮธแพฝ ฮฟแผฑ ฯฮฟฯฮฟแฝถ ฯฮฑฯฯแฟ แผฮฝฮทฯ ฯฮทฮบฮญฮฝฮฑฮน ฮดฮนฮนฯฯฯ ฯฮฏฮถฮฟฮฝฯฮฑฮน; ฯฯฮดฮต ฮผแฝดฮฝ ฮตแผดฯฮฟฮนฮผแพฝ แผฮฝ, แฝ ฯฮน ฮบฮฑฯแพฝ แผฯฯแฝฐฯ แผฮณฮญฮฝฮตฯฮฟ ฯแฝธ ฯแพถฮฝ ฮฟแฝฮธแพฝ แฝฯแพฝ ฮฟแฝฮดฮตฮฝแฝธฯ ฮณฮตฮฝฮฝฮทฮธฮญฮฝ, ฮฟแฝฯแพฝ ฮฟแฝฮดฮตฮฝแฝธฯ แผฮฝฮตฮบฮฑ.
ฮฃฮฉฮห ฯฮฏ ฮดฮญ; แผฆ ฯฯฯแฝถฯ ฮฑแผฐฯฮฏฮฟฯ ฮณฮต ฯแฟฯ ฮณฮตฮฝฮญฯฮธฮฑฮน ฯแฝธ ฯแพถฮฝ;
ฮฃฮคฮฮฆห ฯฮทฮผแฝถ ฮณแฝฐฯ ฮฟแฝฮฝ. ฮตแผฐ ฮณฮฌฯ ฯฮฟฮน ฮดฮนแพฝ แผฮปฮปฮฟ ฯฮน แผฮณฮตฮฝฮฝฮฎฮธฮท, แผฮฝ ฯฯฯฮฝแฟณ แผฮฝ แผฮบฮตแฟฮฝฮฟ แฝฯแฟฯฮพฮตฮฝ แผตฮฝฮฑ ฯฮฟแฟฆฯฮฟ แผฮณฮญฮฝฮฝฮทฯฮตฮฝ, แผฮปฮปแพฝ แผฮดฯฮฝฮฑฯฮฟฮฝ, แฝฆ ฯฮฏฮปฮตยท แผ ฮผฮฑ ฮณฮฟแฟฆฮฝ ฯแฟท ฯฮฑฮฝฯแฝถ แผฮณฮญฮฝฮตฯฮฟ ฮฑแฝฯฯ, แฝ ฯฯฯฮฝฮฟฯ, ฯฯฯฯฮตฯฮฟฮฝ ฮดแพฝ ฮฟแฝ. ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฮผแฝฒฮฝ ฮดแฝด ฮบฮฑแฝถ แฝ ฮธฮตฮฝ ฮณแพฝ แผฮณฮญฮฝฮตฯฮฟ ฯแฝธ ฯแพถฮฝ, แผฮฝฯฮตแฟฆฮธฮตฮฝ ฯฮฑฮฝฯฮฑฯฮฟแฟ ฯฮต ฮทแฝฮพฮตฯฮฟ ฮบฮฑแฝถ แผฮผฮทฯฮฌฮฝฯฯ แฝกฯ ฯฮฑฯฯยท ฯฮฌฯฮนฯฯฮฑ ฮผฮญฮฝ ฮณฮต ฮดฮฎ ฯฮทฯฮน ฯแฝดฮฝ แผญฯฮฑฮฝ แฝฮผฮทฯฮฟฯ ฯฮญฯฮตฯฮธฮฑฮน ฮดฯฮฝฮฑฯฮธฮฑฮน, ฮปฮญฮณฯฮฝ แฝ ฯฮน
โแฝกฯ ฮดแพฝ แฝ
ฯแพฝ แผฮฝ แผฮฮพแฟ ฮฝฯฮฟฯ แผฮฝฮญฯฮฟฯ, แฝ
ฯ ฯแพฝ แผฯแฝถ ฯฮฟฮปฮปแฝดฮฝ
ฮณฮฑแฟฮฑฮฝ แผฮปฮทฮปฮฟฯ
ฮธแฝผฯ ฯฯฮตฯแฝถ ฯฮตฯ
ฮบฮฑฮปฮฏฮผแฟฯฮน ฮฝฮฟฮฎฯแฟ
แผฮฝฮธแพฝ ฮตแผดฮทฮฝ แผข แผฮฝฮธฮฑ, ฮผฮตฮฝฮฟฮนฮฝฮฎแฟฯฮฏ ฯฮต ฯฮฟฮปฮปฮฌ,
แฝฃฯ ฮบฯฮฑฮนฯฮฝแฟถฯ ฮผฮตฮผฮฑฯ
แฟฮฑ ฮดฮนฮญฯฯฮฑฯฮฟ ฯฯฯฮฝฮนฮฑ แผญฯฮทโยท
แผฮปฮปแฝฐ ฮผฮญฮฝฯฮฟฮน ฮธแพถฯฯฯฮฝ ฮณฮต ฮทแฝฮพฮฎฮธฮท ฯฯฯฮต ฯแฝธ ฯแพถฮฝ. แผฮณฮตฮฝฮฝฮฎฮธฮท ฮดแฝด แผฯฯฯฮฑ, แผ ฮบฮฑแฝถ แผฮฝแฝฐ ฯแฝธ ฯฮบฮฟฯฮตฮนฮฝแฝธฮฝ แผฮพฮญฮปฮฑฮผฯฮตฮฝยท แผฯฮตฮนฮดแฝด ฮฟแฝฮฝ ฯฮฑแฟฆฮธแพฝ ฮฟแฝฯฯฯ แผฮบฮปฮฌฮผฯฮฑฮฝฯฮฑ ฮธฮตฯฮผฯฯฮตฯฮฑ ฮณฮญฮฝฮฟฮนฯฮฟ แผข แฝฅฯฯโ แผฮฝ ฯแฟ ฮฑแฝฯแฟ แผฮพฮตฮน ฮดฮนฮฑฮผฮญฮฝฮตฮนฮฝ, แผฮบฯฮฑฮณฮญฮฝฯฮฑ แผฮพฮฏฮตฮน ฮตแผฐฯ ฯแฝธ ฮบฮฑฮปฮฟฯฮผฮตฮฝฮฟฮฝ ฮบฮตฮฝแฝธฮฝ ฮผฮญฯฮท ฯฮฟฮปฮปแฝฐ ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฯฮฑฮฝฯฮฟแฟฮฑ, ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฮดแฝด แผฮบ ฯฮฟฯฯฯฮฝ ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฯฯ ฮบฮฝฮฟฯ ฮผฮญฮฝฯฮฝ ฯแฝฐ แผฮฝฮธฮฌฮดฮต ฯฮตฯฮฟฮฏฮทฯฮฑฮน ฯฮฌฮฝฯฮฑ.
แฝฯแพทฯ แผฯฮฑ, แฝฆ ฮฃฯฮบฯฮฑฯฮตฯ, แฝ ฯฮน แฝฅฯฯฮตฯ แฝ ฯฮฟแฟฮฝฮนฮพ แผฮบ ฯแฟฯ ฯฮญฯฯฮฑฯ ฮณฮฏฮณฮฝฮตฯฮธฮฑฮน ฮปฮญฮณฮตฯฮฑฮน, ฮฟแฝฯฯฯ ฮบฮฑแฝถ แผฯฮตฯฮฝแฟถฯ ฯฮฟฮนฮฟแฟฆฯฯฯ แผฯฯฮนฮฝ แผฮฝฮธฯฯฯฮฟฯ ฮฟแผทฮฟฯ แผฮบ ฯแฟถฮฝ ฮผฮตฯแฟถฮฝ แผฮบฮตฮฏฮฝฯฮฝ ฯฯ ฮณฮบฮตแฟฯฮธฮฑฮน แผ ฯฮตฯ แผฯฯฯฮฑ แผฮบฯฮฑฮณฮญฮฝฯฮฑ แผฮพแฟฮบฮตฮฝ, ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฮดแฝด ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฯแฟถฯ ฮฑแฝฯแฝธฯ ฮณฮญฮณฮฟฮฝฮตฮฝ ฯฮฑฮฝฯแฝถ ฯฯฯฯแฟณ แผฯฮนฯฮบฮญฯฮฑฯฮธฮฑฮนยท ฯฮฟฮนฮณฮฌฯฯฮฟฮน แผฮฑฯ ฯฯฮฝ ฮณฮต ฮณฮฝฯฯฮตฯฮฑฮน แฝฯ แผฮฝ ฯฮฑฯฯแฟ ฮตแผฐฮดแฟ ฮฟแผทฮฟฯ แฝคฮฝ.
แผฮบฮตฮฏฮฝฮทฮฝ ฮฟแฝฮฝ, แฝฆ ฯฮฏฮปฮต, ฯแฝดฮฝ แผฯฮนฯฯฮฎฮผฮทฮฝ, แผงฯ ฯแฝบ ฮดแฝด ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฯฮฟฮปฮปแฝฐ แผฯฮท ฯฯฯฮดฯฮฑ แผฯฮนฮธฯ ฮผฮตแฟฯ ฯฯ ฯฮตแฟฮฝ, ฯฮฑฯแพฝ แผฮผฮฟแฟฆ ฮตแผดฮปฮทฯฮฑฯ.
ฮฃฮฉฮห ฮธฮฑฯ ฮผฮฑฯฮฏฯฯ ฮณฮต ฮฝแฝด ฯแฝดฮฝ แผญฯฮฑฮฝ ฮปฮญฮณฮตฮนฯ, แฝฆ ฮฃฯฮญฯฮฑฮฝฮตยท ฮตแผฐ ฮดแพฝ ฮฟแฝฮฝ ฮบฮฑแฝถ แฝฯฮธแฟถฯ, ฮฟแฝฯฯ ฮฟแผถฮดฮฑ แผฮณฯฮณฮต. ฯฮฏฮฝฮฑ ฮดแฝด ฯแฟฯ ฮฑแฝฯแฝธฮฝ ฮณฮนฮณฮฝฯฯฮบฮตฮนฮฝ; ฮฟแฝฯแฝถ ฯแฝธฮฝ ฮตแผฐฮดฯฯฮฑ ฯแฟถฯ ฮฑแฝฯแฝธฯ ฮณฮญฮณฮฟฮฝฮตฮฝ;
ฮฃฮคฮฮฆห แผฮณฯฮณฮตยท แผฮบฮฑฯฯฮฟฯ ฮณแฝฐฯ ฮฟแฝฮฝ ฮดแฝด แผกฮผแฟถฮฝ แผฯฯฮนฮฝ ฮฟแผทฯฯฯฮตฯ ฯฮญฯฯ ฮบฮตฮฝ ฮตแผถฮฝฮฑฮน, แผฮปฮปแพฝ ฮฟแฝ ฮผแฝดฮฝ แผฯฮธแพฝ แฝ ฯฯฯ แผฮฝ ฯฮนฯ ฮผฮฌฮธฮฟฮน แฝ ฯแฟ ฮฑแฝฯแฝธฯ ฯฮญฯฯ ฮบฮตฮฝ ฮผแฝด ฯแฝดฮฝ ฮฑแฝฯฮฟแฟฆ ฮณฮญฮฝฮตฯฮนฮฝ แผฯฮนฯฯฮฌฮผฮตฮฝฮฟฯ.
ฮฃฮฉฮห ฮฑแฝฯแฝธ ฮดแฝฒ ฮบฮฑฮปฯฮฝ ฯฮน ฮฟแผดฮตฮน ฮตแผถฮฝฮฑฮน, ฯแฝธ ฮฑแฝฯแฝธฮฝ ฮณฮฝแฟถฮฝฮฑฮน;
ฮฃฮคฮฮฆห ฮฟแฝ ฮดแฟฯฮฑ แผฮปฮปแฝฐ ฮบฮฌฮปฮปฮนฯฯฮฟฮฝ.
ฮฃฮฉฮห ฯฮญฯฮต ฮดฮฎ, แผฯฮนฯฮบฮตฯฯฮผฮตฮธฮฑ ฯฮฏ ฮปฮญฮณฮตฮนฯ. ฮบฮฑฮฏ ฮผฮฟฮน ฮตแผฐฯฮญยท ฯแฟท ฮณโ แผฮฝ ฮธฮฑฮปฮฌฯฯแฟ ฯฮตฮนฮผฮฑฮถฮฟฮผฮญฮฝแฟณ ฯฯฯฮตฯฮฟฮฝ ฮบฮฌฮปฮปฮนฯฮฝ แผฯฯฮนฮฝ ฮตแผฐฮดฮญฮฝฮฑฮน แฝ ฯฮน แผฮบ ฯฮผฮนฮบฯแฟถฮฝ ฮดแฝด ฮผฮตฯแฟถฮฝ ฯฯ ฮณฯฮฌฮฝฮตฮน ฯฮตฯฯ ฮบฯฯ, แผข ฮผแพถฮปฮปฮฟฮฝ แผฮบฮตฮฏฮฝฮทฮฝ แผฯฮตฮนฮฝ ฯแฝดฮฝ แผฯฮนฯฯฮฎฮผฮทฮฝ แพ ฮบฯฮฏฮฝฯฮฝ ฯฮฌ ฯฮต แฝกฯ แผฮปฮทฮธแฟถฯ ฮดฮตฮนฮฝแฝฐ แฝฮฝฯฮฑ ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฯแฝฐ ฮผฮฎ, แผฯฯฮฑฮปแฟถฯ แผฮฝ ฮบฮนฮฝฮดฯ ฮฝฮตฯฮฟฮน ฯฮฌฮฝฯฮฑฯ ฮบฮนฮฝฮดฯฮฝฮฟฯ ฯ ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฮฑแฝฯแฝธฯ ฯฯฮธฮตฮฏฮท;
ฮฃฮคฮฮฆห ฮฟแฝฯฯ ฮผแพถฮปฮปฮฟฮฝ.
ฮฃฮฉฮห ฮบฮฑแฝถ แผฮฝฮดฯฮตฮฏฮฑฮฝ ฮดแฝด แฝฯฮธแฟถฯ ฮบฮฑฮปฮฟแฟฆฮผฮตฮฝ ฮฑแฝฯฮฎฮฝ;
ฮฃฮคฮฮฆห ฯฮฏ ฮฟแฝฮฝ;
ฮฃฮฉฮห แผฮฝฮญฯฮตฯฮธฮฑฮน ฮณฮต ฯฯฮฎ, แฝฆ ฮฃฯฮญฯฮฑฮฝฮต, แผฮผฮฟแฟฆ แผฯฮนฯฮตฮนฯฮฟแฟฆฮฝฯฮฟฯ แผฮปฮปฮฟฯ ฯ แผฮพฮตฯฮฌฮถฮตฮนฮฝยท แผฯฮตฮฏ ฯฮฟฮน ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฮบฮฑฯแฝฐ ฯฮผฮนฮบฯแฝธฮฝ ฯฯฮฟฯแฝผฮฝ ฯฮฟแฝบฯ ฮปฯฮณฮฟฯ ฯ ฯฮฟฮนฮฟแฟฆฮผฮฑฮน, ฯฮฟฮฒฮฟฯฮผฮตฮฝฮฟฯ แผฮบฮฌฯฯฮฟฯฮต ฮผฮฎ ฯฮฟฯฮต ฮปฮฌฮธฯ ฮดฮนแพฝ แผฮผฮญฮปฮตฮนฮฑฮฝ แผข ฮดฮนแฝฐ แฟฅแพณฮธฯ ฮผฮฏฮฑฮฝ แผฮพฮฑฮผฮฑฯฯฯฮฝ.
ฮฃฮคฮฮฆห แฝฯฮธแฟถฯ ฮณฮต ฯแฝบ ฯฮฟฮฏฮฝฯ ฮฝ ฯฮฟฮนแฟถฮฝ.
ฮฃฮฉฮห ฮผแฝด ฮฟแฝฮฝ ฮธฮฑฯฮผฮฑฮถฮต ฯแฝฐ แผฯฯฯฯฮผฮตฮฝฮฑ, แผฮปฮปแพฝ แผฯฮฟฮบฯฮฏฮฝฮฟฯ ยท ฯแฟท ฮดแฝด แผกฮดฮฟฮฝแฟถฮฝ ฯฮนฮฝฯฮฝ ฮบฮฑฯแฝฐ ฯฯฯฮทฮฝ ฮณฮตฯ ฯฮฑฮผฮญฮฝแฟณ ฮบฮฌฮปฮปฮนฮฟฮฝ แผฯฯฮฑฮน แผแฝฐฮฝ ฮผฮฌฮธแฟ ฯฯ ฮณฮบฮตฮฏฮผฮตฮฝฯฯ ฯฯฯ, แผข แผแฝฐฮฝ ฮผฮทฮดฮตฮฝแฝถ ฯฯฯฯแฟณ แผฅฯฯฯฮฝ แฝขฮฝ ฯแฟถฮฝ แผกฮดฮฟฮฝแฟถฮฝ, ฯฮฑแฟฯ ฮผแฝฒฮฝ แผฮผฮผฮญฯฯฮฟฮนฯ ฯฮฑฮฏฯฮตฮนฮฝ แผฯฮฏฯฯฮทฯฮฑฮน, ฯแฟถฮฝ ฮดแฝฒ ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฯฯฮฟฮดฯฮฟฯฮญฯฯฮฝ ฮบฯฮฑฯฮตแฟฮฝ;
ฮฃฮคฮฮฆห ฮดแฟฮปฮฟฮฝ ฮดแฝด ฯฮฟแฟฆฯฯ ฮณฮต ฮบฮฌฮปฮปฮนฮฟฮฝ แผฯฯฮฑฮน.
ฮฃฮฉฮห ฮฟแฝฮบฮฟแฟฆฮฝ ฯฯฯฯฮฟฯฯฮฝฮทฮฝ ฮปฮญฮณฮตฮนฯ ฯฮฑฯฯฮทฮฝ ฯแฝดฮฝ แผฯฮนฯฯฮฎฮผฮทฮฝ;
ฮฃฮคฮฮฆห ฯฯฯฯฮฟฯฯฮฝฮทฮฝ ฮณแฝฐฯ ฮฟแฝฮฝยท แผฯแฝฐฯ ฮผแฝด แผฯแฝถ ฯแฟท ฮปฯฮณแฟณ ฯแฝดฮฝ แผฮปฮปฮทฮฝ แผกฮผฮญฯฮฑฮฝ ฮดฮนฮฑฯฯฮฏฮฒฯฮผฮตฮฝ, แผฯฯฯ ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฯฮตฯแฝถ ฯแฟถฮฝ แผฮปฮปฯฮฝ แผฯฮตฯแฟถฮฝ แฝกฯฮฑฯฯฯฯ. แผฮปฮปแฝฐ ฯฯแฝธฯ ฯฮฏ ฯฮฑแฟฆฯฮฑ แผฯฯฯแพทฯ;
ฮฃฮฉฮห ฮตแผฐ แผฯฮฑ ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฯแฟท ฮผฮฎฮบฮตฮน ฯแฟฯ แผฮพฮตฯฮฌฯฮตฯฯ แผฮณฮฑฮฝฮฑฮบฯฮตแฟฯ ฯฮฑฯ ฯฮทฯฮฏ, ฯฯฮฟฮฯฮผฮตฮฝ ฮดแฝด แผตฮฝฮฑ ฯฮตฯฮฑฮฝฮธแฟ. ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฮผแฝฒฮฝ ฮดแฝด แผฯฮนฯฯฮฎฮผฮฑฯ ฮณฮญ ฯฮนฮฝฮฑฯ แฝกฮผฮฟฮปฮฟฮณฮฎฮบฮฑฮผฮตฮฝ ฮตแผถฮฝฮฑฮน แฝงฮฝ แผฮบฮฌฯฯฮท ฮบฮฑฮปฮปฮฏฯฮฝ แผข ฮตแผฐฮดฮญฮฝฮฑฮน ฯแฟถฯ แผฮบฮฑฯฯฮฟฯ แผฮณฮญฮฝฮตฯฮฟยท แผข ฮฟแฝ ฮผฮฝฮทฮผฮฟฮฝฮตฯฮตฮนฯ;
ฮฃฮคฮฮฆห แผฮณฯฮณฮต.
ฮฃฮฉฮห แผฮปฮปแฝฐ ฮผแฝดฮฝ ฮบฮฌฮปฮปฮนฯฯฯฮฝ ฮณฮต แผฯฮทฯ ฯแฝธ ฮฑแฝฯแฝธฮฝ ฮณฮฝแฟถฮฝฮฑฮนยท แผฆ ฮณฮฌฯ;
ฮฃฮคฮฮฆห ฮฝฮฑฮฏ.
ฮฃฮฉฮห ฮฟแฝฮบ แผฯแพฝ แผฮฝ ฮตแผดฮท ฯฮฟฯแฝฒ ฯฮฑแฝฯฯฮฝ, แฝฆ ฮฃฯฮญฯฮฑฮฝฮต, ฯฯ ฯฮต ฯแฝดฮฝ ฮฑแฝฯฮฟแฟฆ ฮณฮญฮฝฮตฯฮนฮฝ ฮตแผฐฮดฮญฮฝฮฑฮน ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฯแฝธ ฮฑแฝฯแฝธฮฝ ฮณฮฝแฟถฮฝฮฑฮน.
ฮฃฮคฮฮฆห ฮฟแฝฮบ แผฮฟฮนฮบฮตฮฝยท ฮบฮฑฮฏฯฮฟฮน ฮตแฝ ฮณแพฝ แผดฯฮธฮน แฝ ฯฮน ฮฟแฝ ฮผแฝด ฯฮบฮฟฯแฟถฮฝ ฯฮฑฯฯฯฮผฮฑฮน ฯแฝธ ฯแพถฮฝ, ฮฟแฝฮดแพฝ แผฮฌฮฝ ฮผฮต ฯฮฟฮปฮปฮฌฮบฮนฯ แผฮพฮตฮปฮญฮณฯแฟฯยท ฯฮฟแฝบฯ ฮณแฝฐฯ ฮดแฝด ฯฮฟฯฮฟฯฯ ฯฮทฮผฮน ฮผฯ ฯฮนฮฌฮบฮนฯ ฮทแฝฯฮทฮบฮญฮฝฮฑฮน แฝ ฯฮตฮปฮนฮผฯฯฮฑฯฮฑ ฯฮฟแฟฯ แผฮฝฮธฯฯฯฮฟฮนฯ ฯแพถฯฮนฮฝ, ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฮตแฝฯฮฎฯฮตฮนฮฝ แผฮปฮปฮฑ ฮผฯ ฯฮฏฮฑ ฮฟแผทฮฑ ฮฟแฝฮบ แผฮฝ ฯฮนฯ ฯแฟถฮฝ ฮฝแฟฆฮฝ ฮผฮฑฮฝฯฮตฯฯฮฑฮนฯฮฟ.
ฮฃฮฉฮห ฯฮฑแฟฆฯแพฝ แผฯฯฯ, ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฯฯฯฯ ฮณแพฝ แฝฮผแฟฮฝ ฮผแฝฒฮฝ ฮดแฝด ฯฮฟแฟฯ ฯฮฟฯฮฟแฟฯ ฯฮฌฯฮนฮฝ แผฯฮฟฮดฮฏฮดฯฮผฮน ฯแฟถฮฝ แผคฮดฮท ฮทแฝฯฮทฮผฮญฮฝฯฮฝ, ฯฮฟแฝถ ฮดแพฝ ฮฟแฝฮฝ ฮฑแฝฯแฟท, แฝฆ ฮฃฯฮญฯฮฑฮฝฮต, ฯฯฯฮดฯฮฑ ฯฮฑฯฮฑฮบฮตฮปฮตฯฮฟฮผฮฑฮน ฮดฮนฮฑฯฮตฮปฮตแฟฮฝ แฝ ฯฮน ฮฒฮฟฯฮปฮตฮน ฯฮบฮฟฯแฟถฮฝยท ฮถฮฎฯฮตฮน ฯฮฟฮฏฮฝฯ ฮฝ แผฯฯฯฮฑ ฯฮต ฮดฮฎ, ฮตแผดฯแพฝ ฮฟแฝฮฝ แผฮพฮตฯฯฮฌฮณฮท ฯฮฑแฟฆฯโ ฮตแผดฯฮต ฮผฮฎ, ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฯฮปฮฑฮฝฮทฯแฝฐ ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฯแฟถฯ ฯฮตฯฮนฮบฮฑฮปฮปแฝฒฯ ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฯฯฮฝฮธฮตฯฮฑ ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฮผฮญฯฮท ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฯแผฮปฮปแพฝ แฝฮฝฯฯฯ แฝฮฝฯฮฑ, ฮถฮฎฯฮตฮน ฯแฝธฮฝ ฯฯฯฮฝฮฟฮฝ แฝ ฯฮน ฯฮฟฯแพฝ แผฯฯแฝถ ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฯฯฯฮต ฮณฮญฮณฮฟฮฝฮต ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฯฮฟแฟฆ, ฮถฮฎฯฮตฮน ฯแฝธ ฮบฮตฮฝแฝธฮฝ ฯแฟถฯ แผฯฮตฮน ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฯแฟถฯ ฮดฮนแพฝ ฮฑแฝฯฮฟแฟฆ ฯแผฮปฮปฮฑ ฮบฮนฮฝฮตแฟฯฮฑฮน ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฯแฟถฯ แผฮปฮปฯฮฝ ฯฮนฮฝแฟถฮฝ ฯฮฑฯฯฮฝฯฯฮฝ ฮบฮฌฮผฯฯฮตฯฮฑฮน, แฝฅฯฯฮตฯ แผฮฝ ฮตแผด ฯฮนฯ ฯแฟถฮฝ แผฮธฮฑฮฝฮฌฯฯฮฝ ฮธฮตแฟถฮฝ ฯฯฮพฮฑ ฯฮฑฮปฮฏฮฝฯฮฟฮฝฮฑ ฯฮนฯฮฑฮฏฮฝฮฟฮน, ฮฟแฝ ฮณแฝฐฯ แผฯฮธแพฝ แฝ ฯฯฯ ฮฟแฝ ฯฮฌฮผฯฮฟฮปฮปแพฝ ฮตแฝฯฮฎฯฮตฮนฯ แพ ฮฒฮญฮปฯฮนฮฟฮฝ แผฮฝ ฮผฮฌฮธฮฟฮนฮผฮตฮฝ ฯแฝธ ฯแพถฮฝยท แผฮฝ ฮผฮญฮฝฯฮฟฮน ฯฮฟแฟฆฯฯ ฮณฮต ฮฒฮฟฯฮปแฟ ฮผฮฑฮธฮตแฟฮฝ, แฝกฯ ฯฯแฝด ฮบฮฑฮธแพฝ แผฮบฮฌฯฯฮทฮฝ แผกฮผฮญฯฮฑฮฝ แผฮฝฮดฯฮตฮฏฯฯ ฯฮต ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฯฯฯฯฯฮฝฯฯ ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฮดฮนฮบฮฑฮฏฯฯ ฯฯฮฌฯฯฮตฮนฮฝ ฯฮฌฮฝฯฮฑ, ฮฟแฝฮดแฝฒฮฝ ฮดฮตฮฎฯฮตฮน ฯฯฮฑฮณฮผฮฑฯฮตฯฮตฯฮธฮฑฮน ฯแฟถฮฝ ฯฮทฮปฯฮธฮน ฯฮญฯฮน, ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฮณแฝฐฯ ฯฯฮฟฯ ฮดแฟ ฮดฮนฮฑฮปฮตฮณฯฮผฮตฮฝฮฟฯ แผฮปฮปฮฟฮนฯ แผฮฝฮธฯฯฯฮฟฮนฯ, ฮบฮฑแฝถ แฝ ฯฮน แผฮฝ ฮฟแผดฯฮฝฯฮฑฮน ฮตแผฐฮดฮญฮฝฮฑฮน แผฮพฮตฯฮฌฮถฯฮฝ แผฮผฮผฮญฯฯฯฯ, ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฯฯฮฟฯฮญฯฯฮฝ ฯแฝธฮฝ ฮฝฮฟแฟฆฮฝ ฯฮฟแฟฯ ฯแฟถฮฝ ฯฮนฮปฮฟฯฯฯฯฮฝ, ฮบแผฮฝ ฯฮฟฮน ฮผฮฌฯฮฑฮนฮฑ ฯฮฑฮฏฮฝฮทฯฮฑฮน ฯแฝฐ ฮฝแฟฆฮฝ, ฯฮฌฮดฮต ฮณแพฝ แผฮฝฮธฮฌฮดแพฝ แผฮฝ ฯฮฟฯ ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฮตแฝฯฮฟฮนฯ ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฮผฮฌฮธฮฟฮนฯ แพ ฯแฝบ ฮดแฝด ฮฟแผทฯฯ ฯแพฝ แผฯแฟ แฝกฯ แผฯฮนฯฯฮฑ ฮดฮนฮฑฮฒฮนแฟถฮฝฮฑฮน ฯแฝธฮฝ แผฮปฮปฮฟฮฝ ฮฒฮฏฮฟฮฝ.
Stephen, or, On the universe
Stephen Hawking: You should thank us scientists, Socrates.
Socrates: Why is that, Stephen?
Stephen: Well, you used to encourage everyone to know themselves, did you not?
Socrates: By Zeus, I did indeed! And I still encourage the same things now.
Stephen: And I suppose you would be very grateful to someone knowing these things and willing to teach you?
Socrates: Most grateful, in fact!
Stephen: So then, Socrates, you should be most grateful to me and other scientists โ we are the ones who, beyond all others, know all these things.
Socrates: By Heracles! So you think you know yourself?
Stephen: I donโt just think so โ I know so. Indeed, I could reveal these things to you right now, if you like! But if youโre too busy now, letโs take them up later.
Socrates: My dear sir, please teach me this knowledge right now โ Iโve never been too proud to be willing to learn from others, or to thank whoever has taught me.
Stephen: OK then, Socrates: we scientists have made many wonderful discoveries. But weโve done this using just one single method: for we judge the probability of our hypotheses depending on the extent to which they have been confirmed experimentally, and we ignore everything else โ especially the empty studies of philosophers. One of Euripidesโ quotes makes the point splendidly:
โhe who conquers by eloquence is clever, but I have always considered facts greater than words.โ
โSo then,โ I imagine someone will ask, โjust what are these discoveries which scientists claim to have made in this manner?โ Hereโs how Iโd respond: in the beginning, the universe came into being without having been produced by, or because of, anything.
Socrates: What? Are you really claiming that the universe came into being without a cause?
Stephen: I am indeed. For you see, if the universe was created due to something else, then that other thing would have already existed in time, in order to produce the universe. But thatโs impossible, my friend: time itself came into being together with the universe, not before. And then the universe expanded in all directions from that single point, with unbelievable speed โ by way of comparison, Homer describes Heraโs ability to fly very quickly, saying that:
โQuick as a thought goes flashing through a man
whoโs traveled the world โ โAh to be there, or there!โ โ
as his mind swarms with journeys, fresh desires โ
so quick in her eager flight flew noble Hera nowโ โ
and yet the universe expanded even faster at that time. Next, stars formed, shining in the darkness. Whenever those shining stars became too hot to maintain their same state, they exploded, projecting into the so-called โvoidโ many different types of particles. Everything here on Earth has been made out of the condensation of those particles.
You see then, Socrates, that just as the phoenix is said to come into being out of burnt ashes, so too a human being is simply a composite of those particles which exploding stars emitted โ a composite who investigates their own origin in every way. Therefore, whoever knows their own nature in this way will also know themselves โ and as a result, my friend, youโve now received from me that knowledge which youโve so desired to obtain for many years.
Socrates: ฮy Hera, you speak wonderfully, Stephen! However, I donโt know yet whether you also speak truly. Who is that you claim knows themselves? Is it whoever knows their own origin?
Stephen: Exactly โ for each of us is what theyโve been formed by nature to be, but no-one can learn how theyโve been formed unless they also know their own origin.
Socrates: And do you think that knowing oneself is, in itself, a fine thing?
Stephen: The finest, rather.
Socrates: OK, letโs examine what you are saying. Tell me this: is it finer for someone caught in a storm at sea (a) to know that they happen to have been formed from small particles, or rather (b) to possess that knowledge by which they can distinguish the things that are truly to be feared from those that are not, and โ by means of this โ securely run all risks and save themselves?
Stephen: The latter.
Socrates: And we correctly call this knowledge โcourageโ?
Stephen: Whatโs your point?
Socrates: Ah, Stephen, one must be patient with me when I try to examine others. For you see, I carry out my reasoning advancing by little steps, fearing on each occasion that, through carelessness or rashness, I might fall into error unawares.
Stephen: And you are quite correct to do so.
Socrates: Don’t be surprised then at my questions, but just respond: will it finer for someone who, by chance, has tasted some pleasures if they (a) understand that they are themselves, in some fashion, a compound, or instead if they, (b) being in no way enslaved to pleasures, know how to enjoy the moderate ones, and master the more intense ones?
Stephen: Clearly the latter will be finer.
Socrates: And you call such knowledge โself-controlโ?
Stephen: Yes, โself-controlโ โ and now, to avoid spending the rest of the day on this argument, letโs just assume that the same applies in the case of the other virtues too. But whatโs your point in asking these things?
Socrates: Ah, if youโre now also impatient with the length of this examination, letโs advance and bring it to a conclusion. So then, weโve agreed that there are some types of knowledge which are finer than knowing everyoneโs origin: or donโt you remember?
Stephen: I do.
Socrates: But you said knowing oneself is finest, right?
Stephen: ฮฅes.
Socrates: It follows, Stephen, that knowing oneโs origin could not, in any way, be the same thing as knowing oneself.
Stephen: It seems not; and yet, as you know well, I will not cease studying the universe โ not even if you should refute me many times over! Scientists have, I claim, on countless occasions discovered most useful things for the benefit of the whole human race, and will discover countless more things โ things that no-one today could even foretell.
Socrates: Let us grant it; in addition, I do indeed thank you scientists for the discoveries which you have already made; as for you yourself, Stephen, I very much exhort you to go on investigating whatever you wish: investigate stars โ whether or not they have exploded โ and planets, and majestic light, and compounds, and particles, and whatever else actually exists; investigate time โ what it is, when it came into being, and where; investigate space โ its nature, how everything else moves through it, and how itโs curved when certain other things are present, like one of the immortal gods drawing their curved bow; for Iโm sure that youโll discover a great many things by which we may better understand the universe; if, however, you wish to learn this โ how you ought to act every day, and in every action, in accordance with courage, self-restraint, and justice โ you wonโt need to busy yourself with things far away, for, by earnestly conversing with other people, examining in an appropriate way whatever they think they know, and paying attention to the studies of philosophers โ even if they seem โemptyโ to you for the time being โ you might just discover and learn, right here, those things by which you will be able to live the rest of your life in the best possible way.
Chad Bochan, Australia
Very generously, and most illuminatingly, the author has provided a spectacularly learned summary of both the linguistic and philosophical issues raised in the piece. There is no-one currently wandering this globous Earth with plain outspred who can read it without learning something new, so please do give it a look โ if if if if if you are curious.
Myriad thanks to everyone who took the time and effort to enter this last competition. We really were bowled over by how many clever and creative ideas you troubled to work up. Our next competition will probably be in the realm of art, so hang tight thitherto!