From the book
Lysis
Plato · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordHēgeomai means think or judge; regard something as having a certain value.
- In LysisAt 218b those who still judge that they do not know what they do not know remain capable of loving wisdom.
- Reading contextNeither use should be reduced to the verb’s separate sense “lead.”
- A place to readThe Greek example means “Still believing they do not know what they do not know.”
- English renderings
- Think or judge; regard something as having a certain value
Meaning
Think or judge; regard something as having a certain value.
Grammatical category: verb.
Use in the book
At 218b those who still judge that they do not know what they do not know remain capable of loving wisdom. The participle ἡγούμενοι describes their assessment of their own knowledge.
At 219d–e2 the same verb helps describe the father’s valuation of his son and his belief that wine would save him. Context distinguishes an opinion about facts from an appraisal of importance. Neither use should be reduced to the verb’s separate sense “lead.”