§1.2#2ὁ δʼ ἀπορῶν καὶ θαυμάζων οἴεται ἀγνοεῖν (διὸ καὶ ὁ φιλόμυθος φιλόσοφός πώς ἐστιν· ὁ γὰρ μῦθος σύγκειται ἐκ θαυμασίων)· ὥστʼ εἴπερ διὰ τὸ φεύγειν τὴν ἄγνοιαν ἐφιλοσόφησαν, φανερὸν ὅτι διὰ τὸ εἰδέναι τὸ ἐπίστασθαι ἐδίωκον καὶ οὐ χρήσεώς τινος ἕνεκεν.
But he who is puzzled and wonders thinks himself ignorant (wherefore even the myth-lover is in a way a philosopher, for myth is composed of wonders); so that if indeed they philosophized in order to escape ignorance, it is evident that they pursued understanding for the sake of knowing, and not for the sake of some utility.
μαρτυρεῖ δὲ αὐτὸ τὸ συμβεβηκός· σχεδὸν γὰρ πάντων ὑπαρχόντων τῶν ἀναγκαίων καὶ πρὸς ῥᾳστώνην καὶ διαγωγὴν ἡ τοιαύτη φρόνησις ἤρξατο ζητεῖσθαι.
And the event itself bears witness to this; for it was when almost all the necessities and things for comfort and recreation were present that such understanding began to be sought.
δῆλον οὖν ὡς διʼ οὐδεμίαν αὐτὴν ζητοῦμεν χρείαν ἑτέραν, ἀλλʼ ὥσπερ ἄνθρωπος, φαμέν, ἐλεύθερος ὁ αὑτοῦ ἕνεκα καὶ μὴ ἄλλου ὤν, οὕτω καὶ αὐτὴν ὡς μόνην οὖσαν ἐλευθέραν τῶν ἐπιστημῶν· μόνη γὰρ αὕτη αὑτῆς ἕνεκέν ἐστιν.
It is clear, then, that we seek it for no other utility, but just as we say a free man is he who exists for his own sake and not for another's, so we seek this as being the only free science among the sciences; for this alone exists for its own sake.
διὸ καὶ δικαίως ἂν οὐκ ἀνθρωπίνη νομίζοιτο αὐτῆς ἡ κτῆσις· πολλαχῇ γὰρ ἡ φύσις δούλη τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐστίν, ὥστε κατὰ Σιμωνίδην
"θεὸς ἂν μόνος τοῦτʼ ἔχοι γέρας,"
ἄνδρα δʼ οὐκ ἄξιον μὴ οὐ ζητεῖν τὴν καθʼ αὑτὸν ἐπιστήμην.
Wherefore also the possession of it might justly be regarded as not human; for in many ways human nature is slavish, so that, according to Simonides, "a god alone could have this privilege," and it is not fitting for a man not to seek the science which is in accordance with his own nature.
εἰ δὴ λέγουσί τι οἱ ποιηταὶ καὶ πέφυκε φθονεῖν τὸ θεῖον, ἐπὶ τούτου συμβῆναι μάλιστα εἰκὸς καὶ δυστυχεῖς εἶναι πάντας τοὺς περιττούς.
If indeed the poets say anything of truth and the divine nature is by birth envious, it is likely to happen especially in this case, and that all who are outstanding should be unfortunate.
ἀλλʼ οὔτε τὸ θεῖον φθονερὸν ἐνδέχεται εἶναι, ἀλλὰ κατὰ τὴν παροιμίαν πολλὰ ψεύδονται ἀοιδοί, οὔτε τῆς τοιαύτης ἄλλην χρὴ νομίζειν τιμιωτέραν.
But neither is it possible for the divine to be envious, but rather, according to the proverb, "poets tell many lies," nor should we think any other science more honorable than this.
ἡ γὰρ θειοτάτη καὶ τιμιωτάτη· τοιαύτη δὲ διχῶς ἂν εἴη μόνη· ἥν τε γὰρ μάλιστʼ ἂν ὁ θεὸς ἔχοι, θεία τῶν ἐπιστημῶν ἐστί, κἂν εἴ τις τῶν θείων εἴη.
For the most divine is also the most honorable; and such a science would be uniquely so in two ways: for the science which a god would especially possess is divine among sciences, and also if there were any science of divine things.
μόνη δʼ αὕτη τούτων ἀμφοτέρων τετύχηκεν· ὅ τε γὰρ θεὸς δοκεῖ τῶν αἰτίων πᾶσιν εἶναι καὶ ἀρχή τις, καὶ τὴν τοιαύτην ἢ μόνος ἢ μάλιστʼ ἂν ἔχοι ὁ θεός.
And this science alone has attained both of these; for God is thought by all to be among the causes and a certain principle, and such a science either a god alone or especially would possess.
ἀναγκαιότεραι μὲν οὖν πᾶσαι ταύτης, ἀμείνων δʼ οὐδεμία.
All other sciences, indeed, are more necessary than this, but none is better.
—δεῖ μέντοι πως καταστῆναι τὴν κτῆσιν αὐτῆς εἰς τοὐναντίον ἡμῖν τῶν ἐξ ἀρχῆς ζητήσεων.
We must, however, in a way establish the possession of it in the contrary state to our original inquiries.
ἄρχονται μὲν γάρ, ὥσπερ εἴπομεν, ἀπὸ τοῦ θαυμάζειν πάντες εἰ οὕτως ἔχει, καθάπερ περὶ τῶν θαυμάτων ταὐτόματα ἢ περὶ τὰς τοῦ ἡλίου τροπὰς ἢ τὴν τῆς διαμέτρου ἀσυμμετρίαν (θαυμαστὸν γὰρ εἶναι δοκεῖ πᾶσι τοῖς μήπω τεθεωρηκόσι τὴν αἰτίαν εἴ τι τῷ ἐλαχίστῳ μὴ μετρεῖται)· δεῖ δὲ εἰς τοὐναντίον καὶ τὸ ἄμεινον κατὰ τὴν παροιμίαν ἀποτελευτῆσαι, καθάπερ καὶ ἐν τούτοις ὅταν μάθωσιν· οὐθὲν γὰρ ἂν οὕτως θαυμάσειεν ἀνὴρ γεωμετρικὸς ὡς εἰ γένοιτο ἡ διάμετρος μετρητή.
For indeed all begin, as we said, from wondering whether it is so, as in the case of self-moving marvels, or concerning the solstices of the sun, or the incommensurability of the diagonal (for it seems wonderful to all who have not yet theoretical knowledge of the cause, if something is not measured by the smallest unit); but we must end in the contrary and better state, according to the proverb, as indeed happens in these cases when they learn; for a geometrician would wonder at nothing so much as if the diagonal should become commensurable.
τίς μὲν οὖν ἡ φύσις τῆς ἐπιστήμης τῆς ζητουμένης, εἴρηται, καὶ τίς ὁ σκοπὸς οὗ δεῖ τυγχάνειν τὴν ζήτησιν καὶ τὴν ὅλην μέθοδον.
What indeed is the nature of the science we are seeking has been said, and what is the goal which the inquiry and the whole method must attain.