Combining Texts

Ideas for 'Purifications (frags)', 'A Serious Proposal to the Ladies I' and 'The Consolations of Philosophy'

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20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 3. Acting on Reason / b. Intellectualism

5762	The wicked want goodness, so they would not be wicked if they obtained it [Boethius]
	Full Idea: If the wicked obtained what they want - that is goodness - they could not be wicked.
	From: Boethius (The Consolations of Philosophy [c.520], IV.II)
	A reaction: This is a nice paradox which arises from Boethius being, like Socrates, an intellectualist. The question is whether the wicked want the good de re or de dicto. If they wanted to good de re (as its true self) they would obviously not be wicked.