Book 6
6
(Choice is not concerned with what has happened already: for example, no one chooses to have sacked Troy; for neither does one deliberate about what has happened in the past, but about what still lies in the future and may happen or not; what has happened cannot be made not to have happened. Hence Agathon is right in saying This only is denied even to God, The power to make what has been done undone.) The attainment of truth is then the function of both the intellectual parts of the soul. Therefore their respective virtues are those dispositions which will best qualify them to attain truth.
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Let us then discuss these virtues afresh, going more deeply into the matter.
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Let it be assumed that there are five qualities through which the mind achieves truth in affirmation or denial, namely Art or technical skill,τέχνη, Art, as appears below, stands for εὐτεχνία and means here craftsmanship of any kind; it includes skill in fine art, but is not limited to it. Scientific Knowledge, Prudence, Wisdom, and Intelligence. Conception and Opinion are capable of error.
