Sophist – Plato
STRANGER: And what would you say of the fig-THEAETETUS: True.
ure or form of justice or of virtue in general? Are we not well aware that many, having no knowl-STRANGER: Can we find a suitable name for each edge of either, but only a sort of opinion, do their of them? This is clearly not an easy task; for best to show that this opinion is really enter-among the ancients there was some confusion tained by them, by expressing it, as far as they of ideas, which prevented them from attempt-can, in word and deed?
ing to divide genera into species; wherefore there is no great abundance of names. Yet, for the sake THEAETETUS: Yes, that is very common.
of distinctness, I will make bold to call the imitation which coexists with opinion, the imitation STRANGER: And do they always fail in their at-of appearance—that which coexists with science, tempt to be thought just, when they are not? Or a scientific or learned imitation.
is not the very opposite true?
THEAETETUS: Granted.
THEAETETUS: The very opposite.
STRANGER: The former is our present concern, STRANGER: Such a one, then, should be defor the Sophist was classed with imitators indeed, scribed as an imitator—to be distinguished from but not among those who have knowledge.
the other, as he who is ignorant is distinguished from him who knows?
THEAETETUS: Very true.