The Meno by Plato. - HTML preview

39

Meno

MENO: Certainly.

will do them good, and others who know that SOCRATES: Then are there some who desire the they will do them harm.

evil and others who desire the good? Do not all SOCRATES: And, in your opinion, do those who men, my dear sir, desire good?

think that they will do them good know that they MENO: I think not.

are evils?

SOCRATES: There are some who desire evil?

MENO: Certainly not.

MENO: Yes.

SOCRATES: Is it not obvious that those who are SOCRATES: Do you mean that they think the evils ignorant of their nature do not desire them; but which they desire, to be good; or do they know they desire what they suppose to be goods al-that they are evil and yet desire them?

though they are really evils; and if they are mis-MENO: Both, I think.

taken and suppose the evils to be goods they reSOCRATES: And do you really imagine, Meno, ally desire goods?

that a man knows evils to be evils and desires MENO: Yes, in that case.

them notwithstanding?

SOCRATES: Well, and do those who, as you say, MENO: Certainly I do.

desire evils, and think that evils are hurtful to SOCRATES: And desire is of possession?

the possessor of them, know that they will be MENO: Yes, of possession.

hurt by them?

SOCRATES: And does he think that the evils will MENO: They must know it.

do good to him who possesses them, or does he SOCRATES: And must they not suppose that know that they will do him harm?

those who are hurt are miserable in proportion MENO: There are some who think that the evils to the hurt which is inflicted upon them?