[185b]
Socrates
How then—to take the case I suggested just now—should we set to work if we wanted to consider which of us was the most expert in regard to a contest? Should we not pick him who had learnt and practised, and had also had good teachers of this particular skill?Melesias
I think so.Socrates
And even before that, we should ask what was this skill of which we are looking for the teachers?Melesias
How do you mean?Socrates
Perhaps it will be more easily grasped in this form. I think we have not started with an agreement between us as to what the thing is about which we are consulting, in this question of who among us is an expert and to this end has resorted to teachers,
How then—to take the case I suggested just now—should we set to work if we wanted to consider which of us was the most expert in regard to a contest? Should we not pick him who had learnt and practised, and had also had good teachers of this particular skill?Melesias
I think so.Socrates
And even before that, we should ask what was this skill of which we are looking for the teachers?Melesias
How do you mean?Socrates
Perhaps it will be more easily grasped in this form. I think we have not started with an agreement between us as to what the thing is about which we are consulting, in this question of who among us is an expert and to this end has resorted to teachers,