The science of medicine and the science of rhetoric

 

Socrates: The method of the science of medicine is, I suppose (O9 au0to/j pou tro/poj te/xnhj i0atrikh=j), the same as that of the science of rhetoric (o3sper kai\ r9htorikh=j).

Phaedrus: How is that (Pw~j dh/;)?

Socrates: In both it is necessary to determine the nature of something (E0n a0mfote/raij dei= diele/sqai fu/sin), in the one the nature of body (sw&matoj me\n e0n th=| e9te/ra|), in the other the nature of soul (yuxh=j de\ e0n th=| e9te/ra|), if you are to proceed scientifically, and not merely by knack and experience (ei0 me/lleij, mh\ tribh=| mo/non kai\ e0mpeiri/a| a0lla\ te/xnh|), to produce health and strength in the one by applying medicines and diet to it (tw| me\n fa/rmaka kai\ trofh\n prosfe/rwn u9gi/eian kai\ r9w&mhn e0mpoih/sein), and to pass on to the other whatever virtuous conviction you wish by applying words and practices in conformance with law and custom (th=| de\ lo/gouj te kai\ e0pithdeu/seij nomi/mouj peiqw_ h4n a2n bou/lh| kai\ a0reth\n paradw&sein).

Phaedrus: Probably it is like that, Socrates (To\ gou=n ei0ko/j, w} Sw&kratej, ou3twj).

Socrates: Then do you think it is possible to understand the nature of soul satisfactorily (Yuxh=j ou]n fu/sin a0ci/wj lo/gou katanoh=sai oi1ei dunato\n ei]nai) without understanding the nature of the whole (a1neu th=j tou= o3lou fu/sewj;)?

Phaedrus: If one is to place any reliance in Hippocrates the Asclepiad (Ei0 me\n I9ppokra/tei ge tw~| tw~n A0sklhpiadw~n dei= ti piqe/stai), one can’t understand about the body either without this procedure (ou0de\ peri\ sw&matoj a1neu th=j meqo/dou tau/thj).

Socrates: And he’s right, my friend (Kalw~j ga/r, w} e9tai=re, le/gei); but besides Hippocrates the Asclepiad we should examine our account (xrh\ me/ntoi pro\j tw~| I9ppokra/tei to\n lo/gon e0ceta/zonta) to see (skopei=n) if it agrees with him (ei0 sumfwnei=).

Phaedrus: Agreed (Fhmi/).