“Since our mind possesses a natural love of knowledge and curiosity, shouldn’t we rebuke people who use it for unworthy things instead of noble and useful pursuits?”
ἆρ’ οὖν, ἐπεὶ φιλομαθές τι κέκτηται καὶ φιλοθέαμον ἡμῶν ἡ ψυχὴ φύσει,λόγον ἔχει ψέγειν τοὺς καταχρωμένους τούτῳ πρὸς τὰ μηδεμιᾶς ἄξια σπουδῆς ἀκούσματα καὶ θεάματα, τῶν δὲ καλῶν καὶ ὠφελίμων παραμελοῦντας;
I’m guessing Perikles meant “our mind” in the most general sense, and was advocating rebuking people who were using their own minds for unworthy things?
But in a world filled with advertising, propaganda, and “spin”, I totally agree that those people who want to use my mind for unworthy things do indeed merit a rebuke!
Or maybe things 2500 years ago weren’t really all that different than they are now?…