207–208
Socrates
SOC. Do you accept it in the belief that anyone has knowledge of anything when he thinks that the same element is a part sometimes of one thing and sometimes of another or when he is of opinion that the same thing has as a part of it sometimes one thing and sometimes another?
Theaetetus
THEAET. Not at all, by Zeus.
Socrates
SOC. Then do you forget that when you began to learn to read you and the others did just that?
Theaetetus
THEAET. Do you mean when we thought that sometimes one letter and sometimes another belonged to the same syllable, and when we put the same letter sometimes into the proper syllable and sometimes into another?
Socrates
SOC. That is what I mean.
15
Theaetetus
THEAET. By Zeus, I do not forget, nor do I think that those have knowledge who are in that condition.
Socrates
SOC. Take an example: When at such a stage in his progress a person in writing Theaetetus thinks he ought to write, and actually does write, TH and E, and again in trying to write Theodorus thinks he ought to write, and does write, T and E, shall we say that he knows the first syllable of your names?
Theaetetus
THEAET. No, we just now agreed that a person in such a condition has not yet gained knowledge.
Socrates
SOC. Then there is nothing to prevent the same person from being in that condition with respect to the second and third and fourth syllables?
Theaetetus
THEAET. No, nothing.
Socrates
SOC. Then, in that case, he has in mind the orderly description in terms of letters, and will write Theaetetus with right opinion, when he writes the letters in order?
5
Theaetetus
THEAET. Evidently.
