Q
Lykaios Zeus
The place where there are no shadows
We remember
Socrates
I will tell you. The name “man” (ἄνθρωπος) indicates that the other animals do not examine, or consider, or look up at (ἀναθρεῖ) any of the things that they see, but man has no sooner seen---that is, ὄπωπε—than he looks up at and considers that which he has seen. Therefore of all the animals man alone is rightly called man (ἄνθρωπος), because he looks up at (ἀναθρεῖ) what he has seen (ὄπωπε).
Hermogenes
Of course. May I ask you about the next word I should like to have explained?
Socrates
Certainly.Hermogenes
It seems to me to come naturally next after those you have discussed. We speak of man's soul and body.
Socrates
Yes, of course.
Hermogenes
Let us try to analyze these, as we did the previous words.
Socrates
You mean consider “soul” (ψυχή) and see why it is properly called by that name, and likewise “body” (σῶμα)?
Hermogenes
Yes.
Socrates
To speak on the spur of the moment, I think those who gave the soul its name had something of this sort in mind: they thought when it was present in the body it was the cause of its living, giving it the power to breathe and reviving it (ἀναψῦχον), and when this revivifying force fails, the body perishes and comes to an end therefore, I think, they called it ψυχή. But---please keep still a moment. I fancy I see something which will carry more conviction to Euthyphro and his followers; for I think they would despise this attempt and would consider it cheap talk. Now see if you like the new one.
Hermogenes
I am listening.
Socrates
Do you think there is anything which holds and carries the whole nature of the body, so that it lives and moves, except the soul?
Hermogenes
No; nothing.
Socrates
Well, and do you not believe the doctrine of Anaxagoras, that it is mind or soul which orders and holds the nature of all things?
Hermogenes
I do.
Socrates
Then there would be an admirable fitness in calling that power which carries and holds (ἔχει) nature (φύσιν) φυσέχη and this may be refined and pronounced ψυχή.
Hermogenes
Certainly; and I think this is a more scientific explanation than the other.
Socrates
Yes, it is. But it seems actually absurd that the name was given with such truth.
Hermogenes
Now what shall we say about the next word?
Socrates
You mean “body” (σῶμα)?
Hermogenes
Yes.
Socrates
I think this admits of many explanations, if a little, even very little, change is made; for some say it is the tomb (σῆμα) of the soul, their notion being that the soul is buried in the present life; and again, because by its means the soul gives any signs which it gives, it is for this reason also properly called “sign” (σῆμα). But I think it most likely that the Orphic poets gave this name, with the idea that the soul is undergoing punishment for something; they think it has the body as an enclosure to keep it safe, like a prison, and this is, as the name itself denotes, the safe (σῶμα) for the soul, until the penalty is paid, and not even a letter needs to be changed.