philosophy argument

argument 

Plato, Charmides

Argument #2—160e 4-161a 11

“Sophrosune is not modesty (i.e., having regard for others, having a sense of shame or guilt)”

1. Antithesis: Sophrosune is modesty (s), i.e., having regard for others, having a sense of shame or guild, –A/ 160e 4

2. Sophrosune is kalon—F/ 160e

3. [Whoever is kalon is also agathon]—F

4. Sophrosune men are agathos men—2,3/ 160e 9

5. If someone did not have the ergon of agathos, he would not become agathos by any action—F/ 160e 11

6. If one is sophrosune, then one is always agathos and kalon—4,5

7. In Homer it says, “s ’” Odyssey 17, 347, cf. 352 where it uses the same construction about a beggar, i.e., aidos is not agathon, s F/ 161a 3

8. [Homer speaks the truth]—F

9. Aidos is sometimes not agathon—7,8/ 161b 10

10. Sophrosune is not aidos—6, 9/ 161a 11

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11. Thesis: Antithesis is rejected—1, 10