224–225
Stranger
Str. The name of art-merchant would fit the one who trades in the other arts, and now do you be so good as to tell the name of him who trades in virtue.
Theaetetus
Theaet. And what other name could one give, without making a mistake, than that which is the object of our present investigation—the sophist?
10
Stranger
Str. No other. Come then, let us now summarize the matter by saying that sophistry has appeared a second time as that part of acquisitive art, art of exchange, of trafficking, of merchandising, of soul-merchandising which deals in words and knowledge, and trades in virtue.
Theaetetus
Theaet. Very well.
Stranger
Str. But there is a third case: If a man settled down here in town and proposed to make his living by selling these same wares of knowledge, buying some of them and making others himself, you would, I fancy, not call him by any other name than that which you used a moment ago.
Theaetetus
Theaet. Certainly not.
Stranger
Str. Then also that part of acquisitive art which proceeds by exchange, and by sale, whether as mere retail trade or the sale of one’s own productions, no matter which, so long as it is of the class of merchandising in knowledge, you will always, apparently, call sophistry.
15
Theaetetus
Theaet. I must do so, for I have to follow where the argument leads.
Stranger
Str. Let us examine further and see if the class we are now pursuing has still another aspect, of similar nature.
Theaetetus
Theaet. Of what nature?
Stranger
Str. We agreed that fighting was a division of acquisitive art.
Theaetetus
Theaet. Yes, we did.
