[203a]
Socrates
Let us, then, take them up and examine them, or rather, let us examine ourselves and see whether it was in accordance with this theory, or not, that we learned letters. First then, the syllables have a rational explanation, but the letters have not?Theaetetus
I suppose so.Socrates
I think so, too, decidedly. Now if anyone should ask about the first syllable of Socrates; “Theaetetus, tell me, what is SO?” What would you reply?Theaetetus
I should say “S and O.”Socrates
This, then, is your explanation of the syllable?Theaetetus
Yes. [203b] Socrates
Come now, in the same manner give me the explanation of the S.Theaetetus
How can one give any elements of an element? For really, Socrates, the S is a voiceless letter,1 a mere noise, as of the tongue hissing; B again has neither voice nor noise, nor have most of the other letters; and so it is quite right to say that they have no explanation, seeing that the most distinct of them, the seven vowels, have only voice, but no explanation whatsoever.Socrates
In this point, then, my friend, it would seem that we have reached a right conclusion about knowledge.Theaetetus
I think we have. [203c] Socrates
But have we been right in laying down the principle that whereas the letter is unknowable, yet the syllable is knowable?Theaetetus
Probably.Socrates
Well then, shall we say that the syllable is the two letters, or, if there be more than two, all of them, or is it a single concept that has arisen from their combination?Theaetetus
I think we mean all the letters it contains.Socrates
Now take the case of two, S and O. The two together are the first syllable of my name. He who knows it knows the two letters, does he not? [203d] Theaetetus
Of course.Socrates
He knows, that is, the S and the O.Theaetetus
Yes.Socrates
How is that? He is ignorant of each, and knowing neither of them he knows them both?Theaetetus
That is monstrous and absurd, Socrates.Socrates
And yet if a knowledge of each letter is necessary before one can know both, he who is ever to know a syllable must certainly know the letters first, and so our fine theory will have run away and vanished! [203e] Theaetetus
And very suddenly, too.Socrates
Yes, for we are not watching it carefully. Perhaps we ought to have said that the syllable is not the letters, but a single concept that has arisen from them, having a single form of its own, different from the letters.Theaetetus
Certainly; and perhaps that will be better than the other way.Socrates
Let us look into that; we must not give up in such unmanly fashion a great and impressive theory.Theaetetus
No, we must not.
Let us, then, take them up and examine them, or rather, let us examine ourselves and see whether it was in accordance with this theory, or not, that we learned letters. First then, the syllables have a rational explanation, but the letters have not?Theaetetus
I suppose so.Socrates
I think so, too, decidedly. Now if anyone should ask about the first syllable of Socrates; “Theaetetus, tell me, what is SO?” What would you reply?Theaetetus
I should say “S and O.”Socrates
This, then, is your explanation of the syllable?Theaetetus
Yes. [203b] Socrates
Come now, in the same manner give me the explanation of the S.Theaetetus
How can one give any elements of an element? For really, Socrates, the S is a voiceless letter,1 a mere noise, as of the tongue hissing; B again has neither voice nor noise, nor have most of the other letters; and so it is quite right to say that they have no explanation, seeing that the most distinct of them, the seven vowels, have only voice, but no explanation whatsoever.Socrates
In this point, then, my friend, it would seem that we have reached a right conclusion about knowledge.Theaetetus
I think we have. [203c] Socrates
But have we been right in laying down the principle that whereas the letter is unknowable, yet the syllable is knowable?Theaetetus
Probably.Socrates
Well then, shall we say that the syllable is the two letters, or, if there be more than two, all of them, or is it a single concept that has arisen from their combination?Theaetetus
I think we mean all the letters it contains.Socrates
Now take the case of two, S and O. The two together are the first syllable of my name. He who knows it knows the two letters, does he not? [203d] Theaetetus
Of course.Socrates
He knows, that is, the S and the O.Theaetetus
Yes.Socrates
How is that? He is ignorant of each, and knowing neither of them he knows them both?Theaetetus
That is monstrous and absurd, Socrates.Socrates
And yet if a knowledge of each letter is necessary before one can know both, he who is ever to know a syllable must certainly know the letters first, and so our fine theory will have run away and vanished! [203e] Theaetetus
And very suddenly, too.Socrates
Yes, for we are not watching it carefully. Perhaps we ought to have said that the syllable is not the letters, but a single concept that has arisen from them, having a single form of its own, different from the letters.Theaetetus
Certainly; and perhaps that will be better than the other way.Socrates
Let us look into that; we must not give up in such unmanly fashion a great and impressive theory.Theaetetus
No, we must not.
