Sophist – Plato
STRANGER: We know, of course, that he who THEAETETUS: Yes; why should there not be an-professes by one art to make all things is really other such art?
a painter, and by the painter’s art makes resemblances of real things which have the same STRANGER: But as time goes on, and their hear-name with them; and he can deceive the less ers advance in years, and come into closer con-intelligent sort of young children, to whom he tact with realities, and have learnt by sad expe-shows his pictures at a distance, into the belief rience to see and feel the truth of things, are not that he has the absolute power of making what-the greater part of them compelled to change ever he likes.
many opinions which they formerly entertained, so that the great appears small to them, and the THEAETETUS: Certainly.
easy difficult, and all their dreamy speculations are overturned by the facts of life?
STRANGER: And may there not be supposed to be an imitative art of reasoning? Is it not pos-THEAETETUS: That is my view, as far as I can sible to enchant the hearts of young men by judge, although, at my age, I may be one of those words poured through their ears, when they are who see things at a distance only.
still at a distance from the truth of facts, by exhibiting to them fictitious arguments, and mak-STRANGER: And the wish of all of us, who are ing them think that they are true, and that the your friends, is and always will be to bring you speaker is the wisest of men in all things?
as near to the truth as we can without the sad reality. And now I should like you to tell me, 105
Sophist – Plato
whether the Sophist is not visibly a magician and STRANGER: The inference that he is a juggler.
imitator of true being; or are we still disposed to think that he may have a true knowledge of the THEAETETUS: Precisely my own opinion of him.
various matters about which he disputes?
STRANGER: Then, clearly, we ought as soon as THEAETETUS: But how can he, Stranger? Is possible to divide the image-making art, and go there any doubt, after what has been said, that down into the net, and, if the Sophist does not he is to be located in one of the divisions of run away from us, to seize him according to or-children’s play?
ders and deliver him over to reason, who is the lord of the hunt, and proclaim the capture of him; STRANGER: Then we must place him in the class and if he creeps into the recesses of the imita-of magicians and mimics.
tive art, and secretes himself in one of them, to divide again and follow him up until in some sub-THEAETETUS: Certainly we must.
section of imitation he is caught. For our method of tackling each and all is one which neither he STRANGER: And now our business is not to let nor any other creature will ever escape in tri-the animal out, for we have got him in a sort of umph.
dialectical net, and there is one thing which he decidedly will not escape.
THEAETETUS: Well said; and let us do as you propose.
THEAETETUS: What is that?