Sophist – Plato
STRANGER: What is the next step? Shall we say nature of the other entering into them all, makes that motion is other than the three and not other each of them other than being, and so non-exis-than the fourth,—for we agreed that there are tent; and therefore of all of them, in like man-five classes about and in the sphere of which we ner, we may truly say that they are not; and proposed to make enquiry?
again, inasmuch as they partake of being, that they are and are existent.
THEAETETUS: Surely we cannot admit that the number is less than it appeared to be just now.
THEAETETUS: So we may assume.
STRANGER: Then we may without fear contend STRANGER: Every class, then, has plurality of that motion is other than being?
being and infinity of not-being.
THEAETETUS: Without the least fear.
THEAETETUS: So we must infer.
STRANGER: The plain result is that motion, since STRANGER: And being itself may be said to be it partakes of being, really is and also is not?
other than the other kinds.
THEAETETUS: Nothing can be plainer.
THEAETETUS: Certainly.
STRANGER: Then not-being necessarily exists in STRANGER: Then we may infer that being is not, the case of motion and of every class; for the in respect of as many other things as there are; 149
Sophist – Plato
for not-being these it is itself one, and is not the STRANGER: When we speak of not-being, we other things, which are infinite in number.
speak, I suppose, not of something opposed to being, but only different.
THEAETETUS: That is not far from the truth.
THEAETETUS: What do you mean?
STRANGER: And we must not quarrel with this result, since it is of the nature of classes to have STRANGER: When we speak of something as not communion with one another; and if any one great, does the expression seem to you to imply denies our present statement [viz., that being is what is little any more than what is equal?
not, etc.], let him first argue with our former conclusion [i.e., respecting the communion of THEAETETUS: Certainly not.
ideas], and then he may proceed to argue with what follows.
STRANGER: The negative particles, ou and me, when prefixed to words, do not imply opposition, but only THEAETETUS: Nothing can be fairer.
difference from the words, or more correctly from the things represented by the words, which follow them.
STRANGER: Let me ask you to consider a further question.
THEAETETUS: Quite true.
THEAETETUS: What question?
STRANGER: There is another point to be considered, if you do not object.