PHAEDO—Surely that seems to be true.
SOCRATES—I am glad that you think favorably of it, but that is not sufficient if we are to reason upon it, because that upon which we found our argument must be what we accept as absolute truth.
PHAEDO—I think the earth was made for mankind, but if in our conversation something should also seem true, and yet contradictory to that, I know not what I should think.
SOCRATES—Let us, then, think of something else: The earth is at any rate surely for the use of some beings. The mighty Atlas would never sustain it upon his broad shoulders if it did nobody good.
PHAEDO—That, at least, is certain, Socrates.
SOCRATES—And it must be for beings who can make use of it and enjoy it.
PHAEDO—That also is true.
SOCRATES—And beings which can use and enjoy the earth must be living beings.
PHAEDO—Nobody will deny that.
SOCRATES—And there are no living things except the gods, mankind, the lower animals, and plants.