Gonzalez Lodge, Commentary on Plato: Gorgias

εὐεργέτης ἀναγεγράψει: this phrase is found in Hdt. viii. 85, and was doubtless technical, the fut. pf. expressing like the legal pf. the finality and fixity of the action. It was quite common for Greek states to confer the title of εὐεργέτης on citizens or strangers, especially foreign statesmen or princes, for services rendered them. The decree conferring the honor was engraved on stone and preserved. In Apol. 36 d Socrates claims the title for himself. The greatest benefit consists, according to 458 a, in freeing a man from error.

ὦ ἀγαθέ: a friendly manner of address, which frequently, however, has an ironical coloring, or a tone of condescension, depreciation, or correction. So in Lat., o bone, cf. Hor. Sat. ii. 3. 31; or bone vir in comedy.

ὡς ἐγὼ καὶ Καλλικλῆς ὡμολογήσαμεν: sc. in 495 c ff. Cf. especially 500 d.

παραγενομένου, παρόντος: the words may have been designedly chosen with reference to the nature of the ideas ἡδύ and ἀγαθόν, the former being only a condition, the latter an actuality.

ἡδὺ δέ ἐστιν κτἑ.: on the ἡδύ, cf. what Callicles has himself remarked in 494 a, b, above, and especially Phileb. 53 c ἆρα περὶ ἡδονῆς οὐκ ἀκηκόαμεν, ὡς ἀεὶ γένεσίς ἐστιν, οὐσία δ᾽ οὐκ ἔστι τὸ παράπαν ἡδονῆς. On the ἀγαθόν, cf. above 468 b ἕνεκ᾽ ἄρα τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ ἅπαντα ποιοῦσιν οἱ ποιοῦντες and Phileb. 54 c οὐκοῦν ἡδονή γε, εἴπερ γένεσίς ἐστιν, ἕνεκά τινος οὐσίας ἐξ ἀνάγκης γίγνοιτ᾽ ἄν—Τό γε μὴν οὗ ἕνεκα τὸ ἕνεκά του γιγνόμενον ἀεὶ γίγνοιτ̓ ἄν, ἐν τῇ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ μοίρᾳ ἐκεῖνό ἐστι. This distinction, however, even if intended, is not preserved, as can be seen from the following (8) ἀρετῆς τινος παραγενομένης. See on 497 e.