Progress, retention, and loss

Use in the book

Socrates accepts that Theages has noticed striking improvement in certain companions. He does not accept the proposed general rule that his personal willingness can produce it in any applicant. At 129e–130a he gives a differentiated account. First, the daimonic power opposes some associations, precluding benefit. Second, it does not prohibit others, although they confer no benefit. Third, among associations it actively helps, some companions receive a firm and lasting advantage. Fourth, many aided companions progress wonderfully while present but lose their distinction after separation. The last two are subdivisions of the helped group; flattening the passage into “approved pupils improve, rejected pupils do not” removes its central warning.

Speed and permanence are different variables. Helped companions progress “quickly, at once”; some keep their gain, while others do not. Aristides exemplifies the latter possibility. He improves greatly in a short time, leaves on a campaign and afterwards says that his power departed little by little. Rapid acquisition thus need not be matched by sudden loss, and the text does not assert a uniform timetable for every companion.

The descriptions are impressive but incomplete measures of education. Theages originally says that companions appear better than people they had previously been worse than. Aristides describes confidence and comparative standing in discussion. Neither report independently demonstrates that the improvement consists in justice, civic competence or stable knowledge of a defined subject. Socrates generalises the uncertainty of the association, not a verified mechanism or universally specified curriculum.

Places to read

1. 128cἐν πάνυ ὀλίγῳ χρόνῳ … βελτίους φαίνονται — Theages reports a rapid reversal in apparent comparative standing
2. 129eταχὺ γὰρ παραχρῆμα ἐπιδιδόασιν — aided companions progress rapidly
3. 130aβέβαιον … καὶ παραμόνιμον — some benefits are both firm and lasting
4. 130aἐπειδὰν δέ μου ἀπόσχωνται — separation introduces the contrasting loss
5. 130aπάλιν οὐδὲν διαφέρουσιν ὁτουοῦν — former distinction disappears
6. 130aπάμπολυ ἐπεδεδώκει — Aristides had made very great progress
7. 130cκατὰ σμικρόν — he describes gradual loss
8. 130eπάνυ πολὺ ἐπιδώσεις καὶ ταχύ — Theages’ prospective progress remains conditional

Translation in this edition

“Make progress” consistently translates the verb rather than specifying “learn philosophy” or “become virtuous”. “Firm and lasting” preserves the paired adjectives. The outline at 129e–130a likewise distinguishes opposition, ineffective association, progress and the unequal permanence of its results.

At once — παραχρῆμα

At once. Immediately; the helped companions’ progress is represented as beginning without delay. Attested: παραχρῆμα (129e). Progress, retention, and loss.

Differ; stand apart — διαφέρειν

Differ; stand apart. To be different or distinguished; the negated expression says certain absent companions again differ from no one. Attested: διαφέρουσιν (130a). Progress, retention, and loss.

Firm; secure — βέβαιος

Firm; secure. An adjective describing the stability with which some companions possess their benefit. Attested: βέβαιον (130a). Progress, retention, and loss.

Keep away — ἀπέχεσθαι

Keep away. To remain apart or hold oneself away; the separation after which some companions lose their distinction. Attested: ἀπόσχωνται (130a). Progress, retention, and loss.

Lasting — παραμόνιμος

Lasting. Remaining or enduring; paired with firm to distinguish retained benefit from improvement lost after separation. Attested: παραμόνιμον (130a). Progress, retention, and loss.

Make progress — ἐπιδιδόναι

Make progress. To increase or advance; here the improvement of helped companions, without a fully specified curriculum or ethical measure. Attested: ἐπιδιδόασιν (129e). Progress, retention, and loss.

Quickly — ταχύ

Quickly. An adverb marking speed of progress, which does not by itself imply that the resulting benefit lasts. Attested: ταχὺ (129e). Progress, retention, and loss.

Very greatly — πάμπολυ

Very greatly. An intensive quantitative adverb describing the scale of Aristides’ progress during a short association. Attested: πάμπολυ (130a). Progress, retention, and loss.

Wonderful; remarkable — θαυμάσιος

Wonderful; remarkable. In adverbial use, the remarkable degree of progress some companions make while they remain with Socrates. Attested: θαυμάσιον (130a). Progress, retention, and loss.

Not merely permission (contextual phrase)

129e: πολλοῖς δὲ συνεῖναι μὲν οὐ διακωλύει. Lack of opposition to association is not yet positive aid. Socrates immediately distinguishes people who receive no benefit from those whose progress the power assists. The men/de structure organizes different cases; “the sign permits it” must not be used as shorthand for all the favorable outcomes. See Progress and retention.