more from Plato

Single Idea 14503

[catalogued under 7. Existence / C. Structure of Existence / 8. Stuff / b. Mixtures]

Full Idea

Any kind of mixture that does not ...possess measure or the nature of proportion will necessarily corrupt its ingredients and most of all itself. For there would be no blending in such cases but really an unconnected medley, and ruin what contains it.

Gist of Idea

If a mixture does not contain measure and proportion, it is corrupted and destroyed

Source

Plato (Philebus [c.353 BCE], 64d)

Book Reference

Plato: 'Complete Works', ed/tr. Cooper,John M. [Hackett 1997], p.454


A Reaction

My guess is that Plato is thinking of the decay of living things when they die, losing the proportions of psuché, and then applying this to the unity of inanimate objects as well. One might compare Leibniz's monads.