[9]
"I am impressed with the force of the questions
with which Carneades used to begin his discussions:
' What are the things within the scope of divination?
Are they things that are perceived by the senses? But
those are things that we see, hear, taste, smell, and
touch. Is there, then, in such objects some quality
that we can better perceive with the aid of prophecy
and inspiration than we can with the aid of the
senses alone? And is there any diviner, anywhere,
who, if blind, like Tiresias, could tell the difference
between white and black? Or, who, if deaf, could
distinguish between different voices and different
tones? Now you must admit that divination is not
applicable in any case where knowledge is gained
through the senses.
"Nor is there any need of divination even in
matters within the domain of science and of art.
For, when people are sick, we, as a general rule,
do not summon a prophet or a seer, but we call in
a physician. Again, persons who want to learn to
play on the harp or on the flute take lessons, not
from a soothsayer, but from a musician.
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