Tuesday, February 27, 2007

That's Why They Call Him "A Philosopher"

It is not seen by someone because it is being seen but on the contrary it is being seen because someone sees it, nor is it because it is being led that someone leads it but because someone leads it that it is being led; nor does someone carry an object because it is being carried, but it is being carried because someone carries it. Is what I want to say clear, Euthyphro? I want to say this, namely, that if anything comes to be, or is affected, it does not come to be because it is coming to be, but it is coming to be because it comes to be; nor is it affected because it is being affected but because something affects it.

Or do you not agree?

--Socrates, in Plato, Euthyphro 10b6-c4 (G.M.A. Grube Trans.)

No comments: