Sophist – Plato
STRANGER: Looking, now, at the world and all STRANGER: Nobly said, Theaetetus, and if I the animals and plants, at things which grow thought that you were one of those who would upon the earth from seeds and roots, as well as hereafter change your mind, I would have gen-at inanimate substances which are formed within tly argued with you, and forced you to assent; the earth, fusile or non-fusile, shall we say that but as I perceive that you will come of yourself they come into existence—not having existed and without any argument of mine, to that be-previously—by the creation of God, or shall we lief which, as you say, attracts you, I will not fore-agree with vulgar opinion about them?
stall the work of time. Let me suppose, then, that things which are said to be made by nature are THEAETETUS: What is it?
the work of divine art, and that things which are made by man out of these are works of hu-STRANGER: The opinion that nature brings them man art. And so there are two kinds of making into being from some spontaneous and unintel-and production, the one human and the other ligent cause. Or shall we say that they are cre-divine.
ated by a divine reason and a knowledge which comes from God?
THEAETETUS: True.
THEAETETUS: I dare say that, owing to my STRANGER: Then, now, subdivide each of the two youth, I may often waver in my view, but now sections which we have already.
when I look at you and see that you incline to refer them to God, I defer to your authority.
THEAETETUS: How do you mean?