Sophist – Plato
THEAETETUS: I suppose that you are referring THEAETETUS: Happy would mankind be if such to the precepts of Protagoras about wrestling and a thing were possible!
the other arts?
SOCRATES: But how can any one who is igno-STRANGER: Yes, my friend, and about a good rant dispute in a rational manner against him many other things. In a word, is not the art of who knows?
disputation a power of disputing about all things?
THEAETETUS: He cannot.
THEAETETUS: Certainly; there does not seem to be much which is left out.
STRANGER: Then why has the sophistical art such a mysterious power?
STRANGER: But oh! my dear youth, do you suppose this possible? for perhaps your young eyes may THEAETETUS: To what do you refer?
see things which to our duller sight do not appear.
STRANGER: How do the Sophists make young men THEAETETUS: To what are you alluding? I do not believe in their supreme and universal wisdom?
think that I understand your present question.
For if they neither disputed nor were thought to dispute rightly, or being thought to do so were STRANGER: I ask whether anybody can under-deemed no wiser for their controversial skill, then, stand all things.
to quote your own observation, no one would give them money or be willing to learn their art.