33
Soc. Such a man, then, would have such a life; and perhaps it is not unreasonable, if that is the most divine of lives.
33
Pro. Certainly it is not likely that gods feel either joy or its opposite.
33
Soc. No, it is very unlikely; for either is unseemly for them. But let us reserve the discussion of that point for another time, if it is appropriate, and we will give mind credit for it in contending for the second place, if we cannot count it for the first.
33
Pro. Quite right.
33
Soc. Now the other class of pleasure, which we said was an affair of the soul alone, originates entirely in memory.
33
Pro. How is that?
33
Soc. We must, apparently, first take up memory, and perception even before memory, if these matters are to be made clear to us properly.
33
Pro. What do you mean?
33
Soc. Assume that some of the affections of our body are extinguished in the body before they reach the soul, leaving the soul unaffected, and that other affections permeate both body and soul and cause a vibration in both conjointly and in each individually.
33
Pro. Let us assume that.
33
Soc. Shall we be right in saying that the soul forgets those which do not permeate both, and does not forget those which do?
33
Pro. Yes, certainly.
33
Soc. Do not in the least imagine that when I speak of forgetting I mean that forgetfulness arises in this case; for forgetfulness is the departure of memory, and in the case under consideration memory has not yet come into being; now it is absurd to speak of the loss of that which does not exist and has not yet come into being, is it not?
33
Pro. Certainly.
33
Soc. Then just change the terms.
33
Pro. How?
34
Soc. Instead of saying that the soul forgets, when it is unaffected by the vibrations of the body, apply the term want of perception to that which you are now calling forgetfulness.
34
Pro. I understand.
34
Soc. And the union of soul and body in one common affection and one common motion you may properly call perception.
34
Pro. Very true.
34
Soc. Then do we now understand what we mean by perception?
34
Pro. Certainly.
