====== Jowett: MENO 80d-81b — Não se pode buscar o que se ignora ======




Veja também: Coletânea de excertos da obra completa de Platão, na tradução de Jowett, indexados por termos relevantes

Men. And how will you enquire, Socrates, into that which you do not know ? What will you put forth as the subject of enquiry ? And if you find what you want, how will you ever know that this is the thing which you did not know ?

Soc. I know, Meno, what you mean ; but just see what a tiresome dispute you are introducing. You argue that man cannot enquire either about that which he knows, or about that which he does not know ; for if he knows, he has no need to enquire ; and if not, he cannot ; for he does not know the, very subject about which he is to enquire.

Men. Well, Socrates, and is not the argument sound ?

Soc. I think not.

Men. Why not ?

Soc. I will tell you why : I have heard from certain wise men and women who spoke of things divine that —

Men. What did they say ?

Soc. They spoke of a glorious truth, as I conceive.

Men. What was it ? and who were they ?

Soc. Some of them were priests and priestesses, who had studied how they might be able to give a reason of their profession : there, have been poets also, who spoke of these things by inspiration, like Pindar, and many others who were inspired.