Dialogues

dog, who is the gentlest. But he who would not be found tripping, ought to be very careful in this matter of comparisons, for they are most slippery things. Nevertheless, let us assume that the Sophists are the men. I say this provisionally, for I think that the line which divides them will be marked enough if proper care is taken. Theaetetus Likely enough. Stranger Let us grant, then, that from the discerning art comes purification, and from purification let there be separated off a part which is concerned with the soul; of this mental purification instruction is a portion, and of instruction education, and of education, that refutation of vain conceit which has been discovered in the present argument; and let this be called by you and me the nobly-descended art of Sophistry. Theaetetus Very well; and yet, considering the number of forms in which he has presented himself, I begin to doubt how I can with any truth or confidence describe the real nature of the Sophist. Stranger You naturally feel perplexed; and yet I think that he must be still more perplexed in his attempt to escape us, for as the proverb says, when every way is blocked, there is no escape; now, then, is the time of all others to set upon him. Theaetetus True. Stranger First let us wait a moment and recover breath, and while we are resting, we may reckon up in how many forms he has appeared. In the first place, he was discovered to be a paid hunter after wealth and youth. Theaetetus Yes. Stranger In the second place, he was a merchant in the goods of the soul. Theaetetus Certainly. Stranger In the third place, he has turned out to be a retailer of the same sort of wares. Theaetetus Yes; and in the fourth place, he himself manufactured the learned wares which he sold. Stranger Quite right; I will try and remember the fifth myself. He belonged to the fighting class, and was further distinguished as a hero of debate, who professed the eristic art. Theaetetus True. Stranger The sixth point was doubtful, and yet we at last agreed that he was a purger of souls, who cleared away notions obstructive to knowledge. Theaetetus Very true. Stranger Do you not see that when the professor of any art has one name and many kinds of knowledge, there must be something wrong? The multiplicity of names which is applied to him shows that the common principle to which all these branches of knowledge are tending, is not understood. Theaetetus I should imagine this to be the case. Stranger At any rate we will understand him, and no indolence shall prevent us. Let us begin again, then, and reexamine some of our statements concerning the Sophist; there was one thing which appeared to me especially characteristic of him. Theaetetus To what are you referring? Stranger We were saying of him, if I am not mistaken, that he was a disputer? Theaetetus We were. Stranger And does he not also teach others the art of disputation? Theaetetus Certainly he does. Stranger And about what does he profess that he teaches men to dispute? To begin at the beginning⁠—Does he make them able to dispute about divine things, which are invisible to men in general? Theaetetus At any rate, he is said to do so. Stranger And what do you say of the visible things in heaven and earth, and the like? Theaetetus Certainly he disputes, and teaches to dispute about them. Stranger Then, again, in private conversation, when any universal assertion is made about generation and essence, we know that such persons are tremendous argufiers, and are able to impart their own skill to others. Theaetetus Undoubtedly. Stranger And do they not profess to make men able to dispute about law and about politics in general? Theaetetus Why, no one would have anything to say to them, if they did not make these professions. Stranger In all and every art, what the craftsman ought to say in answer to any question is written down in a popular form, and he who likes may learn. Theaetetus I suppose that you are referring to the precepts of Protagoras about wrestling and the other arts? Stranger Yes, my friend, and about a good many other things. In a word, is not the art of disputation a power of disputing about all things? Theaetetus Certainly; there does not seem to be much which is left out. Stranger But oh! my dear youth, do you suppose this possible? for perhaps your young eyes may see things which to our duller sight do not appear. Theaetetus To what are you alluding? I do not think that I understand your present question. Stranger I ask whether anybody can understand all things. Theaetetus Happy would mankind be if such a thing were possible! Socrates But how can anyone who is ignorant dispute in a rational manner against him who knows? Theaetetus He cannot. Stranger Then why has the sophistical art such a mysterious power? Theaetetus To what do you refer? Stranger How do the Sophists make young men believe in their supreme and universal wisdom? For if they neither disputed nor were thought to dispute rightly, or being thought to do so were deemed no wiser for their controversial skill, then, to quote your own observation, no one would give them money or be willing to learn their art. Theaetetus They certainly would not. Stranger But they are willing. Theaetetus Yes, they are. Stranger Yes, and the reason, as I should imagine, is that they are supposed to have knowledge of those things about which they dispute? Theaetetus Certainly. Stranger And they dispute about all things? Theaetetus True. Stranger And therefore, to their disciples, they appear to be all-wise? Theaetetus Certainly. Stranger But they are not; for that was shown to be impossible. Theaetetus Impossible, of course. Stranger Then the Sophist has been shown to have a sort of conjectural or apparent knowledge only of all things, which is not the truth? Theaetetus Exactly; no better description of him could be given. Stranger Let us now take an illustration, which will still more clearly explain his nature. Theaetetus What is it? Stranger I will tell you, and you shall answer me, giving your very closest attention. Suppose that