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Taylor - Theoretic Arithmetic.pdf - Platonic Philosophy

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XXXII<br />

INTRODUCTION<br />

that he is ignorant* of all these particulars: for he does not<br />

abstain from them for the sake of renown, but, in reality, his<br />

body only dwells and is conversant in the city; but his dianoetic<br />

part (or scientifically-reasoning power) considering all<br />

these as trifling and of no value, he is borne away, according<br />

to Pindar, on all sides, geometrizing about things beneath and<br />

upon the earth, astronornizing above the heavens,? and perfectly<br />

investigating all the nature of the beings which every<br />

whole contains, but by no means applying himself to anything<br />

which is near.<br />

"Theodortrs. How is this, Socrates ?<br />

"Socrates. Just, 0 Theodorus, as a certain elegant and graceful<br />

Thracian maid-servant is reported to have said to Thales,<br />

when while astronomizing he fell into a well, that he was very<br />

desirous of knowing what the heavens contained, but that he<br />

was ignorant of what was before him, and close to his feet.<br />

In the same manner all such as are conversant in philosophy<br />

may be derided. For, in reality, a character of this kind is not<br />

only ignorant of what his neighbour does, but he scarcely<br />

knows whether he is a man, or some other animal. Btrt what<br />

man i ~, and what a nature of this kind ought principaZly to do<br />

or suffer, this he makes the object of his inquiry, and earnestly<br />

in0estigates.T Do you understand, Theodorus, or not?<br />

"Theodortrs. I do: and you are certainly right.<br />

* The multitude are ignorant that they are ignorant with respect to objects of all<br />

others the most splendid and real; but the coryphzean philosopher is ignorant that<br />

he is ignorant with respect to objects most unsubstantial and obscure. The former<br />

ignorance is the consequence of a defect, but the latter of a transcendency of gnostic<br />

energy.<br />

t i.e. Contemplating those divine forms in the intellect of the artificer of the<br />

universe, which are paradigms of all that the heavens contain.<br />

$ When intellectual men, therefore, are compared with such as are solely busied in<br />

the investigation of sensible particulars, who are alone delighted with objects of

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