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Now a man may raise a question as to the nature of the right

conception in violation of which a man fails of Self-Control.

That he can so fail when knowing in the strict sense what is

right some say is impossible: for it is a strange thing, as

Socrates thought, that while Knowledge is present in his mind

something else should master him and drag him about like a slave.

Socrates in fact contended generally against the theory,

maintaining there is no such state as that of Imperfect

Self-Control, for that no one acts contrary to what is best

conceiving it to be best but by reason of ignorance what is best.

With all due respect to Socrates, his account of the matter is at

variance with plain facts, and we must enquire with respect to

the affection, if it be caused by ignorance what is the nature of

the ignorance: for that the man so failing does not suppose his

acts to be right before he is under the influence of passion is

quite plain.[2]