Not so, he replied, at all, nor yet, on the other hand, as I believe you regard them.
Well then, I said, since I find you chafe at this suggestion, we will let it pass, and consider another instance that you gave. Is there a thing you call folly?
Yes, he said.
Is not the direct opposite to that thing wisdom?
I think so, he said.
And when men behave rightly and usefully, do you consider them temperate in so behaving, or the opposite?
Temperate, he said.
Then is it by temperance that they are temperate?
Necessarily.
Now those who do not behave rightly behave foolishly, and are not temperate in so behaving?
I agree, he said.
And behaving foolishly is the opposite to behaving temperately?
Yes, he said.
Now foolish behavior is due to folly, and temperate behavior to temperance?
He assented.
And whatever is done by strength is done strongly, and whatever by weakness, weakly?
He agreed.
And whatever with swiftness, swiftly, and whatever with slowness, slowly ?
And so whatever is done in a certain way is done by that kind of faculty, and whatever in an opposite way, by the opposite kind?
He agreed.
Pray now, I proceeded, is there such a thing as the beautiful?
He granted it.
Has this any opposite except the ugly?
None.
Well, is there such a thing as the good?
There is.
Has it any opposite but the evil?
None.
Tell me, is there such a thing as shrill
in the voice?
Yes, he said.
Has it any other opposite than deep.
No, he said.
Now, I went on, each single opposite has but one opposite, not many?
He admitted this.
Come now, I said, let us reckon up our points of agreement. We have agreed that one thing has but one opposite, and no more?
We have.
And that what is done in an opposite way is done by opposites?
Yes, he said.
And we have agreed that what is done foolishly is done in an opposite way to what is done temperately?
Yes, he said.
And that what is done temperately is done by temperance, and what foolishly by folly?
He assented.
Now if it is done in an opposite way, it must be done by an opposite?
Yes?
And one is done by temperance, and the other by folly?
Yes.
In an opposite way?
Certainly.
And by opposite faculties?
Yes.
Then folly is opposite to temperance
Apparently.
Now do you recollect that in the previous stage we have agreed that folly is opposite to wisdom?
He admitted this.