1. Friend gives a
definition of greed: SOCRATES: “What
is greed? What can it be, and who are
greedy people?
FRIEND: In my
opinion, they’re the ones who think it’s a good idea to profit from thing of no
value.
SOCRATES: Do you think they know these things are of no
value, or do they not know? For if they
don’t know, you mean that greedy people are stupid.
FRIEND: No, I don’t mean they’re stupid. What I mean is this: they’re unscrupulous and
wicked people who are overcome by profit, knowing that the things from which
they dare to profit are on no value; yet their shamelessness makes them dare to
be greedy.” p. 610
2. Socrates shoots
down Friend’s definition of greed: SOCRATES: “. . . does a flute-player who
has flutes that are of no value, or a lyre-player with a lyre, or and archer
with a bow or, in short , does any other craftsman, or any other sensible man
who has worthless tools, or any other sort of equipment, expect to profit from
them?
FRIEND: Obviously not.
SOCRATES: Then who do you
say the greedy people are? For surely
the ones just mentioned are not the ones who expect to profit from what they
know has no value. But in that case, my
wonderful friend, there aren’t any greedy people at all, according to what you
say.” p. 611
3. A second definition presented and refuted: FRIEND:” What I mean, Socrates, is this:
greedy people are those whose greed gives them an insatiable desire to profit
even from things that are actually quite petty, and of little or no value.
SOCRATES: Not, of course, knowing that they are of no value,
my very good friend; for we have just proved to ourselves in our argument that
this is impossible.” p. 611
4. In terms of loss
and profit, greed is good: SOCRATES:
“Now, of course, greedy people love to make a profit.
FRIEND: Yes.
SOCRATES: “And by profit you mean the opposite of loss?
FRIEND: I do.
SOCRATES: Is there anyone for whom it is a good thing to
suffer loss?
FRIEND: No one.
SOCRATES: It’s a bad thing?
FRIEND: Yes.
SOCRATES: So people are harmed by loss?
FRIEND: Yes, harmed.
SOCRATES: So loss is bad?
FRIEND: Yes.
SOCRATES: And profit is the opposite of loss?
FRIEND: Yes, the opposite.
SOCRATES: So profit is good?
FRIEND: Yes.
SOCRATES: So it is those who love the good whom you call
greedy.” pp. 611-612
5. The Natural Law of
Self Interest, everyone is greedy:
SOCRATES: “And you can ask me, too, if I’m not the same; for I will also
agree with you that I love good things.
But besides you and me, don’t you believe that all other people love
what’s good and hate what’s bad?
FRIEND: So it appears to me.
SOCRATES: And we agreed that profit is good?
FRIEND: Yes.
SOCRATES: Well, the, in this way of looking at it, everyone
appears to be greedy; whereas, according to what we said earlier, no one was
greedy. So which of these approaches
would it be safe to rely on?
FRIEND: I think, Socrates, we have to get the right conception
of the greedy person. The right conception
is that the greedy person is the one who is concerned with and thinks it’s a
good idea to profit from things which virtuous people would never dare to
profit from.
SOCRATES: But you see, my dear sweet fellow, that we have
already agreed that to profit is to be benefited.
FRIEND: Well, what of it?
SOCRATES: We also agreed that everyone always wants good
things.
FRIEND: Yes.
SOCRATES: Therefore, even good people want every kind of
profit, at least if they’re good.” p.
612
