Sophist – Plato
THEAETETUS: Most assuredly.
STRANGER: But can anything which is, be attributed to that which is not?
STRANGER: And as we cannot admit that a man speaks and says nothing, he who says ‘not-be-THEAETETUS: Impossible.
ing’ does not speak at all.
STRANGER: And all number is to be reckoned THEAETETUS: The difficulty of the argument can among things which are?
no further go.
THEAETETUS: Yes, surely number, if anything, STRANGER: Not yet, my friend, is the time for has a real existence.
such a word; for there still remains of all perplexities the first and greatest, touching the very STRANGER: Then we must not attempt to at-foundation of the matter.
tribute to not-being number either in the singular or plural?
THEAETETUS: What do you mean? Do not be afraid to speak.
THEAETETUS: The argument implies that we should be wrong in doing so.
STRANGER: To that which is, may be attributed some other thing which is?
STRANGER: But how can a man either express in words or even conceive in thought things which THEAETETUS: Certainly.
are not or a thing which is not without number?