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Updated: October 1, 2024
"And selling of free persons into slavery?" "Still in the same place." "And shall we write none of all these," said Socrates, "under the head of justice?" "Not one of them," answered Euthydemus; "it would be strange if we did." "But what," replied Socrates, "when a general plunders an enemy's city, and makes slaves of all the inhabitants, shall we say that he commits an injustice?" "By no means."
"I agree," says Euthydemus. "Well now, what of falsehood? In which column shall we put it?" "Why, of course in the unjust column." "And cheating?" "In the same column." "And stealing?" "In it too." "And enslaving?" "Yes." "Not one of these can go to the just column?" "Why, that would be an unheard-of thing."
Having said this, he withdrew, full of confusion and self-contempt, beginning to be conscious to himself that he was indeed a person of little or no account at all. Nor was he the only person whom Socrates had thus convinced of their ignorance and insufficiency, several of whom never came more to see him, and valued him the less for it. But Euthydemus did not act like them.
Euthydemus was pleased to hear him say this, believing that he approved his method; and Socrates, perceiving his satisfaction, went on: "But what is your design of making a collection of so many books? Do you intend to be a physician? There are many books in that science." "That is not my design," said Euthydemus.
Very reasonable, Hermotimus; what was Euthydemus thinking of, to irritate an old man who is purged of wrath and master of his passions, when he had such a heavy goblet in his hand?
"But," continued Socrates, "when a general sees that his troops begin to be disheartened, if he make them believe that a great reinforcement is coming to him, and by that stratagem inspires fresh courage into the soldiers, under what head shall we put this lie?" "Under the head of justice," answered Euthydemus.
This dialogue was carefully read by Aristotle before he gave his famous description in the Ethics: "A friend is a second self". Perhaps Socrates avoided a definite answer because he did not wish to be too serious with these sunny children. The Euthydemus is an amusing study of the danger which follows upon the use of keen instruments by the unscrupulous.
"Perhaps," said Socrates, "it is because they understand not the trade of a smith?" "Not in the least for that." "Is it because they know not how to build a house, or to make shoes?" "By no means," said Euthydemus; "for most who are skilled in such professions have likewise abject and servile minds."
However, Menander and Euthydemus, the newly-elected generals, were eager to distinguish themselves by performing some brilliant action before the arrival of Demosthenes, and to eclipse the fame of Nikias himself. The battle was fought: and the Athenian left wing, we are told by Thucydides, was utterly defeated by the skilful tactics of the Corinthian steersman Aristion.
"I own it," said Euthydemus, "for some of them are much stronger than man, and yet are so obedient to him, that he does with them whatever he pleases."
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