185–186
Theaetetus
THEAET. By Zeus, Socrates, I cannot answer, except that I think there is no special organ at all for these notions, as there are for those others; but it appears to me that the soul views by itself directly what all things have in common.
Socrates
SOC. Why, you are beautiful, Theaetetus, and not, as Theodorus said, ugly; for he who speaks beautifully is beautiful and good. But besides being beautiful, you have done me a favor by relieving me from a long discussion, if you think that the soul views some things by itself directly and others through the bodily faculties; for that was my own opinion, and I wanted you to agree.
Theaetetus
THEAET. Well, I do think so.
Socrates
SOC. To which class, then, do you assign being; for this, more than anything else, belongs to all things?
Theaetetus
THEAET. I assign them to the class of notions which the soul grasps by itself directly.
Socrates
SOC. And also likeness and unlikeness and identity and difference?
Theaetetus
THEAET. Yes.
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Socrates
SOC. And how about beautiful and ugly, and good and bad?
Theaetetus
THEAET. I think that these also are among the things the essence of which the soul most certainly views in their relations to one another, reflecting within itself upon the past and present in relation to the future.
Socrates
SOC. Stop there. Does it not perceive the hardness of the hard through touch, and likewise the softness of the soft?
