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Single Idea 24291

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 2. Psuche]

Full Idea

Leontius saw some corpses near the public executioner. He desired to look at them, but was disgusted and turned away. Finally he mastered his appetite and rushed to the corpses, saying 'Look for yourselves, you evil eyes, take your fill'.

Gist of Idea

A man was disgusted by corpses, but he angrily overruled his appetite

Source

Plato (The Republic [c.371 BCE], 439e)

A Reaction

[compressed] The story suggests to Socrates that anger can master appetite, so the mind must have 'spirit' [thumos], as well as reason and appetite. So the soul has three parts, not two.

Book Reference

Plato: 'Republic', ed/tr. Reeve, C.D.C. [Hackett 2004], p.127

Related Idea

Idea 2127 The mind has parts, because we have inner conflicts [Plato]