英語短文名人故事 哲學(xué)思想家 第21期:蘇格拉底

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3 Socrates 3 蘇格拉底

Socratic "irony" 蘇格拉底的"偽裝"

Socrates is talking to Hippias of Elis, a travelling "sophist" who sets up as a professional "wise man"， 蘇格拉底正在和埃里斯的希比阿聊天。希比阿是云游四方的"智術(shù)大師"，將自己稱為職業(yè)的"智者"，

taking money for lessons in private and public rhetoric, and managing public business himself. 主講修辭術(shù)，收費授課，還親自負責(zé)公眾事務(wù)。

How, Socrates asks, does Hippias explain the fact that wise men in the old days were not rich public figures? 蘇格拉底問希比阿：為何歷史上的智者都不富有呢？

Hippias: What do you think it could be, Socrates, 希比阿：你怎么想呢，蘇格拉底？

other than that they were incompetent and not capable of using their wisdom to achieve in both areas, public and private? 還不是因為他們無能，不會把智慧運用于個人和國家，并在這兩方面有所作為。

Socrates: Well, other skills have certainly improved, 蘇格拉底：對呀，其他的技藝都有進步，

and by comparison with modern craftsmen the older ones are worthless. 例如與現(xiàn)代工匠相比，古代工匠簡直一錢不值。

Are we to say that your skill - sophistry - has improved in the same way, 我們是否可以說：你這門技藝--詭辯術(shù)，也同樣進步了？

and that the ancients who practiced wisdom were worthless compared to you? 與你相比，那些以智慧為業(yè)的古人也同樣一文不值呢？

Hippias: Yes, you're completely right! 希比阿：是的，你說得沒錯！

Socrates: None of those early thinkers thought it right to demand money as payment, or to make displays of their own wisdom before all sorts of people. 蘇格拉底：早先的思想家以為，在各種各樣的人面前公開展露自己的智慧是不對的，收費更是錯的。

That's how simple-minded they were; they didn't notice how valuable money is. 他們的頭腦真簡單，居然不知道錢是多么重要。

But each of the modern people you mention has made more money from his wisdom than any other craftsman from any skill. 但你提到的現(xiàn)代人，每個人靠自己的智慧掙了大錢，超過任何一個工匠。

And Protagoras did it even before they did. 在他們之前，還有普羅泰弋拉，早就這樣做了。

Hippias: Socrates, you have no idea just how fine this is. 希比阿：蘇格拉底，你根本不知道這樣做有多棒。

If you knew how much money I've made, you'd be amazed! 如果你知道我掙了多少錢，你肯定要嚇壞了！

I'm pretty sure that I've made more money than any two sophists you like put together! 我敢肯定，你隨便舉兩個智術(shù)師，我一個人掙的錢絕對超過他們的總和！

Socrates: What a fine thing to say, Hippias! 蘇格拉底：希比阿，你說得真好！

It's very indicative of your own wisdom, and of what a difference there is between people nowadays and the ancients. 這恰恰體現(xiàn)了你的智慧，也顯示出今人和古人的確不一樣啊。

Hippias thinks Socrates is complimenting him. 希比阿以為蘇格拉底在夸獎他。

The reader, however, sees clearly that Socrates despises the use of intellect to make money, 然而，讀者卻能清楚地看出他蔑視以智術(shù)牟利的做法，

rather than to search for the truth, and hence has complete contempt for Hippias. 蘇格拉底認為智術(shù)應(yīng)當(dāng)求真理，因此他對希比阿嗤之以鼻。

This is the "Socratic irony". 這就是所謂的"蘇格拉底的偽裝"。