[231a]
I am afraid to say the sophists.Theaetetus
Why so?Stranger
Lest we grant them too high a meed of honor.Theaetetus
But the description you have just given is very like someone of that sort.Stranger
Yes, and a wolf is very like a dog, the wildest like the tamest of animals. But the cautious man must be especially on his guard in the matter of resemblances, for they are very slippery things. However, let us agree that they are the sophists; for I think the strife will not be about petty discriminations [231b] when people are sufficiently on their guard.Theaetetus
No, probably not.Stranger
Then let it be agreed that part of the discriminating art is purification, and as part of purification let that which is concerned with the soul be separated off, and as part of this, instruction, and as part of instruction, education; and let us agree that the cross-questioning of empty conceit of wisdom, which has come to light in our present discussion, is nothing else than the true-born art of sophistry.Theaetetus
Let us agree to all that; but the sophist has by this time appeared to be so many things that I am at a loss [231c] to know what in the world to say he really is, with any assurance that I am speaking the truth.Stranger
No wonder you are at a loss. But it is fair to suppose that by this time he is still more at a loss to know how he can any longer elude our argument; for the proverb is right which says it is not easy to escape all the wrestler's grips. So now we must attack him with redoubled vigor.Theaetetus
You are right.Stranger
First, then, let us stop to take breath and while we are resting let us count up [231d] the number of forms in which the sophist has appeared to us. First, I believe, he was found to be a paid hunter after the young and wealthy.Theaetetus
Yes.Stranger
And secondly a kind of merchant in articles of knowledge for the soul.Theaetetus
Certainly.Stranger
And thirdly did he not turn up as a retailer of these same articles of knowledge?Theaetetus
Yes, and fourthly we found he was a seller of his own productions of knowledge.Stranger
Your memory is good; but I will try to recall the fifth case myself. He was an athlete [231e] in contests of words, who had taken for his own the art of disputation.Theaetetus
Yes, he was.Stranger
The sixth case was doubtful, but nevertheless we agreed to consider him a purger of souls, who removes opinions that obstruct learning.Theaetetus
Very true.
Why so?Stranger
Lest we grant them too high a meed of honor.Theaetetus
But the description you have just given is very like someone of that sort.Stranger
Yes, and a wolf is very like a dog, the wildest like the tamest of animals. But the cautious man must be especially on his guard in the matter of resemblances, for they are very slippery things. However, let us agree that they are the sophists; for I think the strife will not be about petty discriminations [231b] when people are sufficiently on their guard.Theaetetus
No, probably not.Stranger
Then let it be agreed that part of the discriminating art is purification, and as part of purification let that which is concerned with the soul be separated off, and as part of this, instruction, and as part of instruction, education; and let us agree that the cross-questioning of empty conceit of wisdom, which has come to light in our present discussion, is nothing else than the true-born art of sophistry.Theaetetus
Let us agree to all that; but the sophist has by this time appeared to be so many things that I am at a loss [231c] to know what in the world to say he really is, with any assurance that I am speaking the truth.Stranger
No wonder you are at a loss. But it is fair to suppose that by this time he is still more at a loss to know how he can any longer elude our argument; for the proverb is right which says it is not easy to escape all the wrestler's grips. So now we must attack him with redoubled vigor.Theaetetus
You are right.Stranger
First, then, let us stop to take breath and while we are resting let us count up [231d] the number of forms in which the sophist has appeared to us. First, I believe, he was found to be a paid hunter after the young and wealthy.Theaetetus
Yes.Stranger
And secondly a kind of merchant in articles of knowledge for the soul.Theaetetus
Certainly.Stranger
And thirdly did he not turn up as a retailer of these same articles of knowledge?Theaetetus
Yes, and fourthly we found he was a seller of his own productions of knowledge.Stranger
Your memory is good; but I will try to recall the fifth case myself. He was an athlete [231e] in contests of words, who had taken for his own the art of disputation.Theaetetus
Yes, he was.Stranger
The sixth case was doubtful, but nevertheless we agreed to consider him a purger of souls, who removes opinions that obstruct learning.Theaetetus
Very true.
