desire and aversion are opposite motions of the soul. The main point of this argument is what is called the principle of non-opposition “the same thing will not be willing to do or undergo opposites in the same respect, in relation to the same thing, at the same time” (436b8–9). Desire is something you want, and aversion is something you don’t. If someone is hungry, he has a desire to eat. If he thinks that eating is not in his best interest, he also has a motivation not to eat. If this desire and aversion are opposite forces, then given the principle about non-opposition, it follows that this desire and aversion are forces of different things conflicting in the person. Socrates concludes that the human psychology has at least two parts. The appetitive part of the soul has the desire, and the part of the soul that reasons has the
desire and aversion are opposite motions of the soul. The main point of this argument is what is called the principle of non-opposition “the same thing will not be willing to do or undergo opposites in the same respect, in relation to the same thing, at the same time” (436b8–9). Desire is something you want, and aversion is something you don’t. If someone is hungry, he has a desire to eat. If he thinks that eating is not in his best interest, he also has a motivation not to eat. If this desire and aversion are opposite forces, then given the principle about non-opposition, it follows that this desire and aversion are forces of different things conflicting in the person. Socrates concludes that the human psychology has at least two parts. The appetitive part of the soul has the desire, and the part of the soul that reasons has the