SOPHIST by Plato - Complete text

Page 60

Str. Then, according to this view, motion is other and also not other?

Theaet. True.

Str. What is the next step? Shall we say that motion is other than the three and not other than the fourth - for we agreed that there are five classes about and in the sphere of which we proposed to make enquiry?

Theaet. Surely we cannot admit that the number is less than it appeared to be just now.

Str. Then we may without fear contend that motion is other than being?

Theaet. Without the least fear.

Str. The plain result is that motion, since it partakes of being, really is and also is not?

Theaet. Nothing can be plainer.

Str. Then not - being necessarily exists in the case of motion and of every class; for the nature of the other entering into them all, makes each of them other than being, and so non - existent; and therefore of all of them, in like manner, we may truly say that they are not - and again, inasmuch as they partake of being, that they are and are existent.

Theaet. So we may assume.

Str. Every class, then, has plurality of being and infinity of not - being.

Theaet. So we must infer.

Str. And being itself may be said to be other than the other kinds. Theaet. Certainly.

Str. Then we may infer that being is not, in respect of as many other things as there are; for not - being these it is itself one, and is: not the other things, which are infinite in number.

Theaet. That is not far from the truth.

Str. And we must not quarrel with this result, since it is of the nature of classes to have communion with one another; and if any one denies our present statement [viz., that being is not, etc.], let him first argue with our former conclusion [i.e., respecting the communion of ideas], and then he may proceed to argue with what follows.

Theaet. Nothing can be fairer.

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