[611a]
either its own or alien, it is evident that it must
necessarily exist always, and that if it always exists it is
immortal.” “Necessarily,” he said.“Let this, then,” I said,
“be assumed to be so. But if it is so, you will observe that these
souls must always be the same. For if none perishes they could not, I
suppose, become fewer nor yet more numerous.1 For if any class of
immortal things increased you are aware that its increase would come from
the mortal and all things would end by becoming immortal.2” “You say truly.”
“But,” said I, “we must not suppose this,
Plato. Plato in Twelve Volumes, Vols. 5 & 6 translated by Paul Shorey. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1969.
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