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Single Idea 3017

[filed under theme 22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 1. Goodness / e. Good as knowledge ]

Full Idea

There is only one good, namely knowledge, and there is only one evil, namely ignorance.

Gist of Idea

The only good is knowledge, and the only evil is ignorance

Source

report of Socrates (reports of career [c.420 BCE]) by Diogenes Laertius - Lives of Eminent Philosophers 02.4.14

Book Ref

Diogenes Laertius: 'Diogenes Laertius', ed/tr. Yonge,C.D. [Henry G. Bohn 1853], p.68

A Reaction

Ignorance of how to commit evil sounds quite good.

The 6 ideas with the same theme [goodness is intelligence and knowledge]:

3017 The only good is knowledge, and the only evil is ignorance [Socrates, by Diog. Laertius]
301 Only knowledge of some sort is good [Plato]
2138 Pleasure is commonly thought to be the good, though the more ingenious prefer knowledge [Plato]
7915 Supreme cleverness is knowledge of the real value of things [Rochefoucauld]
5931 All other things being equal, a universe with more understanding is better [Ross]
5939 Morality is not entirely social; a good moral character should love truth [Ross]