From the book
Charmides
Plato · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Inferiority and poor performance
φαῦλος (phaulos); φαυλότερον (phauloteron); φαῦλον (phaulon)
Phaulos can mark something as poor, inferior or of little account.
Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordPhaulos can mark something as poor, inferior or of little account.
- In the CharmidesSocrates remembers that Charmides was no negligible figure even as a child.
- In this editionThe edition’s colloquial “nothing to sniff at,” “poorly” and “poor inquirer” show why a single English equivalent cannot carry all three settings.
- A place to readThe negated adjective recalls the young Charmides as already worth noticing.
Meaning
Phaulos can mark something as poor, inferior or of little account. The relevant standard comes from context. It need not mean morally wicked. The comparative adverb phauloteron evaluates performance rather than a person’s entire character.
Use in the book
Socrates remembers that Charmides was no negligible figure even as a child. The negated adjective works as an understated compliment in a conversation dominated by conspicuous praise. At 172b the question is whether examiners lacking the proposed knowledge would perform more weakly and poorly than those who possess it; this occurs in the exploration of a possible modest benefit, not an established ranking of actual people. At 175e Socrates describes himself as a poor inquirer rather than accepting that temperance is worthless. The adjective assigns the apparent failure to his investigative performance. It should not be turned into a literal authorial verdict that Socrates has no philosophical competence.
Places to read
Translation in this edition
The edition’s colloquial “nothing to sniff at,” “poorly” and “poor inquirer” show why a single English equivalent cannot carry all three settings.
ἀσθενής
Attested: ἀσθενέστερον (asthenesteron). More weakly or less effectively; qualifies the examination of others by people lacking the proposed knowledge of knowledge. References: 172b. Lexical identification: lemma: ἀσθενής. See Inferiority and poor performance.
βελτίων
Attested: βελτίων (beltiōn). Better; Critias jokes that treatment of Charmides’ head will compel him to become better in mind as well. References: 157d. Lexical identification: lemma: βελτίων. See Inferiority and poor performance.
ὑποδεής
Attested: ὑποδεεστέρα (hypodeestera). Inferior or falling short; negated in the praise of Charmides’ maternal house as not inferior to his paternal one. References: 158a. Lexical identification: lemma: ὑποδεής. See Inferiority and poor performance.
φαῦλος
Attested: φαῦλος / φαυλότερον / φαῦλον (phaulos / phauloteron / phaulon). Poor, inferior or of little account; the comparative evaluates performance, while Socrates later belittles his own inquiry. References: 154b, 172b, 175e. Lexical identification: lemma: φαῦλος. See Inferiority and poor performance.
χείρων
Attested: χείρων (cheirōn). Inferior or worse; Critias says Charmides is inferior to no contemporary in other respects, with the qualification appropriate to his age. References: 157d. Lexical identification: lemma: χείρων. See Inferiority and poor performance.
From the book
Lysis
Plato · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Poor performance
φαῦλος
phaulosPhaulos means paltry, poor, or inadequate; context determines the failing.
Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordPhaulos means paltry, poor, or inadequate; context determines the failing.
- In LysisThe adjective first appears in a denial: Miccus is not φαῦλος.
- Reading contextThe different contexts should remain visible.
- A place to readThe Greek example means “in other respects I am paltry.”
- English renderings
- Paltry, poor, or inadequate; context determines the failing
Meaning
Paltry, poor, or inadequate; context determines the failing.
Grammatical category: adjective.
Use in the book
The adjective first appears in a denial: Miccus is not φαῦλος. Socrates then describes himself as φαῦλος in other matters, reserving one special ability, quickly recognizing lover and beloved. This self-depreciation makes his claim of erotic expertise more striking.
At 206b it describes a poor hunter who scares away his quarry. The shared point is inadequacy or poor performance, not a fixed moral class equivalent in every occurrence to κακός. The different contexts should remain visible.