Book 1
5
One might also raise the question what precisely they mean by their expression the Ideal so and-so,Literally so-and-so itself. seeing that one and the same definition of man applies both to the Ideal man and to man,i.e., the ordinary notion of man—the concept of man in general which we form from our experience of particular men, but do not regard as a thing existing independently of them—; or perhaps a particular man, but this seems to require ἀνθρώπῳ τινί or τῷδε. for in so far as both are man, there will be no difference between them; and if so, no more will there be any difference between the Ideal Good and Good in so far as both are good.
6
Nor yet will the Ideal Good be any more good because it is eternal, seeing that a white thing that lasts a long time is no whiter than one that lasts only a day.
