Dialogue

501  Thea|            thing which we express?~THEAETETUS: Of course there is.~SOCRATES:
502  Thea|         SOCRATES: And that is six?~THEAETETUS: Yes.~SOCRATES: Then in
503  Thea|           a singular and a plural?~THEAETETUS: Clearly we do.~SOCRATES:
504  Thea|            the same; are they not?~THEAETETUS: Yes.~SOCRATES: And the
505  Thea|        like manner is the stadium?~THEAETETUS: Yes.~SOCRATES: And the
506  Thea|      anything is the entire thing?~THEAETETUS: True.~SOCRATES: And the
507  Thea|         each is the parts of each?~THEAETETUS: Exactly.~SOCRATES: Then
508  Thea|        parts are made up of parts?~THEAETETUS: Clearly.~SOCRATES: But
509  Thea|          entire number is the all?~THEAETETUS: True.~SOCRATES: Then the
510  Thea|       consisting of all the parts?~THEAETETUS: That is the inference.~
511  Thea|            anything but the whole?~THEAETETUS: Yes, of the all.~SOCRATES:
512  Thea|            make a valiant defence, Theaetetus. And yet is not the all
513  Thea|          which nothing is wanting?~THEAETETUS: Certainly.~SOCRATES: And
514  Thea|          their entirety of nature.~THEAETETUS: I now think that there
515  Thea|           will be a whole and all?~THEAETETUS: Certainly.~SOCRATES: Then,
516  Thea|           equally known with them?~THEAETETUS: You are right.~SOCRATES:
517  Thea|            be different from them?~THEAETETUS: Yes.~SOCRATES: But if letters
518  Thea|             which are not letters?~THEAETETUS: No, indeed, Socrates; for
519  Thea|       parts.~SOCRATES: Quite true, Theaetetus, and therefore, according
520  Thea|          be some indivisible form?~THEAETETUS: True.~SOCRATES: But do
521  Thea|           indefinable and unknown?~THEAETETUS: I remember.~SOCRATES: And
522  Thea|   indivisible? I can see no other.~THEAETETUS: No other reason can be
523  Thea|          no parts and is one form?~THEAETETUS: To be sure.~SOCRATES: If,
524  Thea|          be the same as the whole?~THEAETETUS: True.~SOCRATES: But if
525  Thea|           and for the same reason?~THEAETETUS: I cannot deny that.~SOCRATES:
526  Thea|    expressed, but not the letters.~THEAETETUS: Certainly not; if we may
527  Thea|    experience in learning to read?~THEAETETUS: What experience?~SOCRATES:
528  Thea|        confused by their position.~THEAETETUS: Very true.~SOCRATES: And
529  Thea|      elements or letters of music?~THEAETETUS: Exactly.~SOCRATES: Then,
530  Thea|            he is talking nonsense?~THEAETETUS: Exactly.~SOCRATES: And
531  Thea|         perfect form of knowledge.~THEAETETUS: We must not.~SOCRATES:
532  Thea|          choice of three meanings.~THEAETETUS: What are they?~SOCRATES:
533  Thea|       appear to be of this nature?~THEAETETUS: Certainly; he who so manifests
534  Thea|        exist apart from knowledge.~THEAETETUS: True.~SOCRATES: Let us
535  Thea|         the elements of the thing.~THEAETETUS: As for example, Socrates...?~
536  Thea|            axle, body, rims, yoke.~THEAETETUS: Certainly.~SOCRATES: And
537  Thea| grammatical account of the name of Theaetetus, and yet could only tell
538  Thea|        which anything is composed.~THEAETETUS: Yes.~SOCRATES: In the same
539  Thea|        whole through the elements.~THEAETETUS: And do you not agree in
540  Thea|      irrational—is this your view?~THEAETETUS: Precisely.~SOCRATES: Well,
541  Thea|       elements at different times?~THEAETETUS: Assuredly not.~SOCRATES:
542  Thea|       process of learning to read?~THEAETETUS: You mean that I mistook
543  Thea|          syllables?~SOCRATES: Yes.~THEAETETUS: To be sure; I perfectly
544  Thea|        learning writes the name of Theaetetus, and thinks that he ought
545  Thea|       syllables of your two names?~THEAETETUS: We have already admitted
546  Thea|            syllables of your name?~THEAETETUS: He may.~SOCRATES: And in
547  Thea|   correctly, he has right opinion?~THEAETETUS: Clearly.~SOCRATES: But
548  Thea|        still be without knowledge?~THEAETETUS: Yes.~SOCRATES: And yet
549  Thea|           admit to be explanation.~THEAETETUS: True.~SOCRATES: Then, my
550  Thea|            exactness of knowledge.~THEAETETUS: It would seem so.~SOCRATES:
551  Thea|         prefer this but the third.~THEAETETUS: You are quite right; there
552  Thea|          question from all others.~THEAETETUS: Can you give me any example
553  Thea|           revolve about the earth.~THEAETETUS: Certainly.~SOCRATES: Understand
554  Thea|            common quality belongs.~THEAETETUS: I understand you, and your
555  Thea|            he had only an opinion.~THEAETETUS: Yes; that is what we are
556  Thea|            SOCRATES: Nevertheless, Theaetetus, on a nearer view, I find
557  Thea|         altogether unintelligible.~THEAETETUS: What do you mean?~SOCRATES:
558  Thea|          but if not, opinion only.~THEAETETUS: Yes.~SOCRATES: The definition
559  Thea| interpretation of your difference.~THEAETETUS: True.~SOCRATES: But when
560  Thea|    distinguishing characteristics.~THEAETETUS: I suppose not.~SOCRATES:
561  Thea|            to you than to another.~THEAETETUS: True.~SOCRATES: Tell me,
562  Thea|             Suppose that I imagine Theaetetus to be a man who has nose,
563  Thea|           enable me to distinguish Theaetetus from Theodorus, or from
564  Thea|         from some outer barbarian?~THEAETETUS: How could it?~SOCRATES:
565  Thea|            others who resemble me?~THEAETETUS: Certainly not.~SOCRATES:
566  Thea|          can have no conception of Theaetetus until your snub-nosedness
567  Thea|         opinion will be re-called?~THEAETETUS: Most true.~SOCRATES: Then
568  Thea|         perception of differences?~THEAETETUS: Clearly.~SOCRATES: What,
569  Thea|            proposal is ridiculous.~THEAETETUS: How so?~SOCRATES: We are
570  Thea|            soul utterly benighted.~THEAETETUS: Tell me; what were you
571  Thea|       surely to acquire knowledge.~THEAETETUS: True.~SOCRATES: And so,
572  Thea|          is adding the definition.~THEAETETUS: That seems to be true.~
573  Thea|            or of anything! And so, Theaetetus, knowledge is neither sensation
574  Thea|         and added to true opinion?~THEAETETUS: I suppose not.~SOCRATES:
575  Thea|            knowledge to the birth?~THEAETETUS: I am sure, Socrates, that
576  Thea|         are not worth bringing up?~THEAETETUS: Very true.~SOCRATES: But
577  Thea|            true.~SOCRATES: But if, Theaetetus, you should ever conceive