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You mean to say, if they have lost their proper excellence, which

is sight; but I have not arrived at that point yet. I would

rather ask the question more generally, and only enquire whether

the things which fulfil their ends fulfil them by their own

proper excellence, and fail of fulfilling them by their own

defect?

Certainly, he replied.

I might say the same of the ears; when deprived of their own

proper excellence they cannot fulfil their end?

True.

And the same observation will apply to all other things?

I agree.

Well; and has not the soul an end which nothing else can fulfil?

for example, to superintend and command and deliberate and the

like. Are not these functions proper to the soul, and can they

rightly be assigned to any other?

To no other.

And is not life to be reckoned among the ends of the soul?

Assuredly, he said.

And has not the soul an excellence also?

Yes.

And can she or can she not fulfil her own ends when deprived of

that excellence?

She cannot.