Plato Apology by James J. Helm 29a4 – b9 page 50 Flashcards
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[29a4 – 29a6] τὸ γάρ τοι θάνατον δεδιέναι, ὦ ἄνδρες, οὐδὲν ἄλλο ἐστιν ἤ δοκεῖν σοφὸν εἶναι μὴ ὄντα· δοκεῖν γὰρ εἰδέναι ἐστὶν ἅ οὐκ οἶδεν.
For doubtless to fear death, gentlemen, is nothing other than to think one is wise when one is not wise; for it is to think to know what one doesn’t know.
τοι
(post-positive enclitic particle): you know (or rather, ‘y’know’, ‘y’see’); doubtless
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ἤ
(1) either, or
(2) than (after a comparison)
ὄντα
Neuter plural of the present participle of εἰμί (eimí, “to be”), thus literally ‘things that are; existing things’.
δοκεῖν
present infinitive of δοκέω
think, think good; seem, seem true; be thought, be reputed
here = “think”
γάρ
(post-positive causal particle from γε + ἄρα): for, since
ἅ οὐκ οἶδεν
“what (one) doesn’t know”; with the indefinite third-person subject omitted (*S931b).
[29a6 – 29b1] οἶδε μὲν γὰρ οὐδεὶς τὸν θάνατον οὐδ’ εἰ τυγχάνει τᾠ ἀνθρώπῳ μέγιστον ὄν τῶν ἀγαθῶν, δεδίασι δ’ ὡς εὖ εἰδότες ὅτι μέγιστον τῶν κακῶν ἐστι.
For no one knows death, not even whether it happens to be the greatest of good for a man, but they have feared it just as they knew well that it is the greatest of evils.
οὐδέ
and not, but not, nor, not even
οὐδέ…οὐδέ
neither…nor
οὐδείς, οὐδεμία, οὐδέν
no one, nothing
εἰ
if, whether
τυγχάνει
third-person singular present active indicative of τυγχάνω (tunkhánō): chance, happen
τυγχάνει ὄν
happens to be, is
A supplementary participle often has the greater importance
δεδίασι
3rd person plural active indicative perfect of δείδω, I fear, I dread
the use of a plural verb with οὐδείς is not uncommon (S950, S1044 & 19e6 note)
ὡς
when
also relative adverb:
the introduction to similes
(a) like as, as, just as
(b) according as
εἰδότες
participle, plural perfect active masculine nominative of οἶδα – see “Some Notes on the Perfect Tense in Greek” for information on perfect participles
ὅτι
(1) that (I, II)
(2) because (II)
(3) = ὅ τι from ὅστις: whatever (II).
[29b1 – 29b2] καίτοι πῶς οὐκ ἀμαθία ἐστὶν αὕτη ἡ ἐπονείδιστος, ἡ τοῦ οἴεσθαι εἰδέναι ἅ οὐκ οἶδεν;
And yet how is it not the most blameworthy ignorance, to think one knows what one does not know?
καίτοι
and yet
πῶς
how?
ἀμαθία, ἡ
ignorance, lack of learning, folly
ἐπονείδιστος
adjective, singular feminine nominative, to be reproached, disgraceful, shameful, blameworthy
οἴεσθαι
present middle passive infinitive of οἴομαι: think, suppose (II, PP)
[29b2 – 29b8] ἐγὼ δ’, ὦ ἄνδρες, τούτῳ καὶ ἐνταῦθα ἴσως διαφέρω τῶν πολλῶν ἀνθρώπων, καὶ εἰ δή τῳ σοφώτερός του φαίην εἶναι, τούτῳ ἄν, ὅτι οὐκ εἰδὼς ἱκανῶς περὶ τῶν ἐν Ἅιδου οὕτω καὶ οἴομαι οὐκ εἰδέναι· τὸ δὲ ἀδικεῖν καὶ ἀπειθεῖν τᾠ βελτίονι καὶ θεῷ καῖ ἀνθρώπῳ, ὅτι κακὸν καὶ αἰσχρόν ἐστιν οἶδα.
And I, gentlemen, to this extent also here perhaps differ from most men, and if I now claim to be wiser in anything, it would be in this, that not knowing enough of the things in Hades, also I do not think I know; but I do know that to do wrong and be disobedient to a better, both god and man, that I know is evil and shameful.
τούτῳ
“in this” (dat. of respect), or “to this extent” (dat. of degree of difference)
ἐνταῦθα
here, there, at this point (II, PP)
ἴσως
equally, possibly, perhaps, very likely
διαφέρω
“be different from”; or (as here) “be superior to” (+ gen. of comparison)
δή
(post-positive particle): clearly, apparently, manifestly, so, now, really (I, II)
τινος
φαίην
verb, 1st singular present optative active of φημί: say, assert (I, II, PP)
εἰδὼς
perfect active participle of οἶδα (oîda), I know
ἱκανῶς, -ή, -όν
fitting, sufficient, enough; competent (II)
εἰδέναι
perfect active infinitive of οἶδα, I know
ἀδικεῖν
present active infinitive of ἀδικέω (adikéō): be unjust (ἀδκικος), be wrong, act unjustly, do wrong, do evil (II); trans.: wrong, harm someone
ἀπειθεῖν
present active infinitive of ἀπειθέω: be disobedient, do not obey
βελτίονι
πρὸ οὖν τῶν κακῶν ὥν οἶδα ὅτι κακά ἐστιν, ἅ μὴ οἶδα εἰ καὶ ἀγαθὰ ὄντα τυγχάνει οὐδέποτε φοβήσομαι οὐδὲ φεύζομαι.
So instead of these evils that I know are bad, never will I fear or avoid those things which I don’t know whether they happen to be good.
πρό
(prep. with gen.): before (I, II), in preference to (II); in place of, instead of
οὖν
(post-positive particle): and so, then, therefore, accordingly
κακά
evil things
nominative/accusative/vocative plural neuter of κακός (kakós)
ὄντα
neuter plural of the present participle of εἰμί (eimí, “to be”), thus literally ‘things that are; existing things’
ὄντα τυγχάνει
happens to be
οὐδέποτε
“not at any time”, “never” (II)
φεύζομαι
future 1st person singular middle of φεύγω:
(1) flee, avoid (I, II, PP).
(2) go into exile, be banished.
(3) be charged, be a defendant in a suit at court.
(May function as a passive verb: be accused, with ὑπό + gen. of agent).
