But the questioning of Socrates on the merits of these speculators sometimes took another form.
The student of human learning expects, he said, to make something of his studies for the benefit of himself or others, as he likes.
Do these explorers into the divine operations hope that when they have discovered by what forces the various phenomena occur, they will create winds and waters at will and fruitful seasons? Will they manipulate these and the like to suit their needs?
Or has no such notion perhaps ever entered their heads, and will they be content simply to know how such things come into existence?
But if this was his mode of describing those who meddle with such matters as these, he himself never wearied of discussing human topics.
What is piety? What is impiety?
What is the beautiful? What the ugly?
What the noble? What the base?
What are meant by just and unjust?
What by sobriety and madness?
What by courage and cowardice?
What is a state? What is a statesman?
What is a ruler over men? What is a ruling character?
And other like problems, the knowledge of which, as he put it, conferred a patent of nobility on the possessor, whereas those who lacked the knowledge might deservedly be stigmatized as slaves.
—from Xenophon, Memorabilia 1.1
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