SOPHIST by Plato - Complete text

Page 32

Str. Well, I am surprised, after what has been said already, that you do not see the difficulty in which he who would refute the notion of not - being is involved. For he is compelled to contradict himself as soon as he makes the attempt.

Theaet. What do you mean? Speak more clearly.

Str. Do not expect clearness from me. For I, who maintain that not - being has no part either in the one or many, just now spoke and am still speaking of not - being as one; for I say "not - being." Do you understand?

Theaet. Yes.

Str. And a little while ago I said that not - being is unutterable, unspeakable, indescribable: do you follow?

Theaet. I do after a fashion.

Str. When I introduced the word "is," did I not contradict what I said before?

Theaet. Clearly.

Str. And in using the singular verb, did I not speak of not - being as one?

Theaet. Yes.

Str. And when I spoke of not - being as indescribable and unspeakable and unutterable, in using each of these words in the singular, did I not refer to not - being as one?

Theaet. Certainly.

Str. And yet we say that, strictly speaking, it should not be defined as one or many, and should not even be called "it," for the use of the word "it" would imply a form of unity.

Theaet. Quite true.

Str. How, then, can any one put any faith in me? For now, as always, I am unequal to the refutation of not - being. And therefore, as I was saying, do not look to me for the right way of speaking about not - being; but come, let us try the experiment with you.

Theaet. What do you mean?

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Plato : SOPHIST

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