philebus   

Soc. What do you mean? I am afraid that we are raising a very

serious enquiry.

Pro. There I agree.

Soc. And yet, my boy, for you are one of Philebus' boys, the point

to be considered, is, whether the enquiry is relevant to the argument.

Pro. Surely.

Soc. No tedious and irrelevant discussion can be allowed; what is

said should be pertinent.

Pro. Right.

Soc. I am always wondering at the question which has now been

raised.

Pro. How so?

Soc. Do you deny that some pleasures are false, and others true?

Pro. To be sure I do.

Soc. Would you say that no one ever seemed to rejoice and yet did

not rejoice, or seemed to feel pain and yet did not feel pain,

sleeping or waking, mad or lunatic?

Pro. So we have always held, Socrates.

Soc. But were you right? Shall we enquire into the truth of your

opinion?

Pro. I think that we should.

Soc. Let us then put into more precise terms the question which

has arisen about pleasure and opinion. Is there such a thing as

opinion?

Pro. Yes.

Soc. And such a thing as pleasure?

Pro. Yes.

Soc. And an opinion must of something?

Pro. True.

Soc. And a man must be pleased by something?

Pro. Quite correct.

Soc. And whether the opinion be right or wrong, makes no difference;