[219a]
Stranger
But I hope he offers us a method and is capable of a definition not unsuitable to our purpose.Theaetetus
That would be good.Stranger
Come now; let us begin with him in this way: Tell me, shall we say that he is a man with an art, or one without an art, but having some other power?Theaetetus
Certainly not one without an art.Stranger
But of all arts there are, speaking generally, two kinds?Theaetetus
How so?Stranger
Agriculture and all kinds of care of any living beings, and that which has to do with things which are put together or molded [219b] (utensils we call them), and the art of imitation—all these might properly be called by one name.Theaetetus
How so, and what is the name?Stranger
When anyone brings into being something which did not previously exist, we say that he who brings it into being produces it and that which is brought into being is produced.Theaetetus
Certainly.Stranger
Now all the arts which we have just mentioned direct their energy to production.Theaetetus
Yes, they do.Stranger
Let us, then, call these collectively the productive art. [219c] Theaetetus
Agreed.Stranger
And after this comes the whole class of learning and that of acquiring knowledge, and money making, and fighting, and hunting. None of these is creative, but they are all engaged in coercing, by deeds or words, things which already exist and have been produced, or in preventing others from coercing them; therefore all these divisions together might very properly be called acquisitive art.Theaetetus
Yes, that would be proper.Stranger
Then since acquisitive and productive art comprise [219d] all the arts, in which, Theaetetus, shall we place the art of angling?Theaetetus
In acquisitive art, clearly.Stranger
And are there not two classes of acquisitive art—one the class of exchange between voluntary agents by means of gifts and wages and purchases, and the other, which comprises all the rest of acquisitive art, and, since it coerces either by word or deed, might be called coercive?Theaetetus
It appears so, at any rate, from what you have said.Stranger
Well then, shall we not divide coercive art into two parts?Theaetetus
In what way?Stranger
By calling all the open part of it fighting [219e] and all the secret part hunting.Theaetetus
Yes.Stranger
But it would be unreasonable not to divide hunting into two parts.Theaetetus
Say how it can be done.Stranger
By dividing it into the hunting of the lifeless and of the living.Theaetetus
Certainly, if both exist.
But I hope he offers us a method and is capable of a definition not unsuitable to our purpose.Theaetetus
That would be good.Stranger
Come now; let us begin with him in this way: Tell me, shall we say that he is a man with an art, or one without an art, but having some other power?Theaetetus
Certainly not one without an art.Stranger
But of all arts there are, speaking generally, two kinds?Theaetetus
How so?Stranger
Agriculture and all kinds of care of any living beings, and that which has to do with things which are put together or molded [219b] (utensils we call them), and the art of imitation—all these might properly be called by one name.Theaetetus
How so, and what is the name?Stranger
When anyone brings into being something which did not previously exist, we say that he who brings it into being produces it and that which is brought into being is produced.Theaetetus
Certainly.Stranger
Now all the arts which we have just mentioned direct their energy to production.Theaetetus
Yes, they do.Stranger
Let us, then, call these collectively the productive art. [219c] Theaetetus
Agreed.Stranger
And after this comes the whole class of learning and that of acquiring knowledge, and money making, and fighting, and hunting. None of these is creative, but they are all engaged in coercing, by deeds or words, things which already exist and have been produced, or in preventing others from coercing them; therefore all these divisions together might very properly be called acquisitive art.Theaetetus
Yes, that would be proper.Stranger
Then since acquisitive and productive art comprise [219d] all the arts, in which, Theaetetus, shall we place the art of angling?Theaetetus
In acquisitive art, clearly.Stranger
And are there not two classes of acquisitive art—one the class of exchange between voluntary agents by means of gifts and wages and purchases, and the other, which comprises all the rest of acquisitive art, and, since it coerces either by word or deed, might be called coercive?Theaetetus
It appears so, at any rate, from what you have said.Stranger
Well then, shall we not divide coercive art into two parts?Theaetetus
In what way?Stranger
By calling all the open part of it fighting [219e] and all the secret part hunting.Theaetetus
Yes.Stranger
But it would be unreasonable not to divide hunting into two parts.Theaetetus
Say how it can be done.Stranger
By dividing it into the hunting of the lifeless and of the living.Theaetetus
Certainly, if both exist.
