Note 62 — Chapter VIII · PLATONIC COMPOSITIONS GENERALLY.
Reading edition
Aristotle, in the first book of Metaphysica (982, b. 17), when repeating a statement made in the Theætêtus of Plato (155 D), that wonder is the beginning, or point of departure, of philosophy — explains the phrase by saying, that wonder is accompanied by a painful conviction of ignorance and sense of embarrassment. ὁ δὲ ἀπορῶν καὶ θαυμάζων οἴεται ἀγνοεῖν ... διὰ τὸ φεύγειν τὴν ἄγνοιαν ἐφιλοσόφησαν ... οὐ χρήσεώς τινος ἕνεκεν. This painful conviction of ignorance is what Sokrates sought to bring about.