Translated by P.E. Matheson (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1916)
Sonnet 4.6 Summary
Sonnet 4.6 Summary
The shortest chapter in Book 2 — barely a paragraph. Someone demands proof that logic is useful. Epictetus asks: shall I demonstrate it? The man agrees. Then how will you know if my demonstration is sound or fraudulent — unless you already have some capacity to evaluate arguments? The man has no answer. The trap closes: you've already admitted logic is necessary, because without it you couldn't even evaluate whether logic is necessary.
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Text
WHEN one of his audience said, 'Convince me that logic is useful,' he said,
Would you have me demonstrate it?
'Yes.'
Well, then, must I not use a demonstrative argument?
And, when the other agreed, he said, How then shall you know if I impose upon you? And when the man had no answer, he said, You see how you yourself admit that logic is necessary, if without it you are not even able to learn this much--whether it is necessary or not.