132–133
Socrates
Soc. Then how shall we obtain the most certain knowledge of it? For if we know that, it seems we shall know ourselves also. In Heaven’s name, do we fail to comprehend the wise words of the Delphic inscription, which we mentioned just now?
Alcibiades
Alc. With what intent do you say that, Socrates?
Socrates
Soc. I will tell you what I suspect to be the real advice which the inscription gives us. I rather think there are not many illustrations of it to be found, but only in the case of sight.
Alcibiades
Alc. What do you mean by that?
Socrates
Soc. Consider in your turn: suppose that, instead of speaking to a man, it said to the eye of one of us, as a piece of advice See thyself, how should we apprehend the meaning of the admonition? Would it not be, that the eye should look at that by looking at which it would see itself?
15
Socrates
Soc. Then let us think what object there is anywhere, by looking at which we can see both it and ourselves.
Alcibiades
Alc. Why, clearly, Socrates, mirrors and things of that sort.
Socrates
Soc. Quite right. And there is also something of that sort in the eye that we see with?
Alcibiades
Alc. To be sure.
20
Socrates
Soc. And have you observed that the face of the person who looks into another’s eye is shown in the optic confronting him, as in a mirror, and we call this the pupil, The Greek κόρη and the Latin pupilla both mean little girl or doll, and were used to indicate the dark center of the eye in which a tiny image can be seen reflected. for in a sort it is an image of the person looking?
Alcibiades
Alc. That is true.
