Pagina 365 de 734

Now Practical Wisdom is not identical with Cleverness, nor is it

without this power of adapting means to ends: but this Eye of the

Soul (as we may call it) does not attain its proper state without

goodness, as we have said before and as is quite plain, because

the syllogisms into which Moral Action may be analysed have for

their Major Premiss,[53] "since -- is the End and the Chief

Good"[54] (fill up the blank with just anything you please, for

we merely want to exhibit the Form, so that anything will do),

but how this blank should be filled is seen only by the good man:

because Vice distorts the moral vision and causes men to be

deceived in respect of practical principles.[55]

It is clear, therefore, that a man cannot be a Practically-Wise,

without being a good, man.