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Stranger
Str. That which exists throughout all these things which you say are many but which you saw fit to call by one name, when you said image of them all, as if they were all one thing. So speak and defend yourself. Do not give way to the man at all.
Theaetetus
Theaet. Why, Stranger, what can we say an image is, except another such thing fashioned in the likeness of the true one?
Stranger
Str. Do you mean another such true one, or in what sense did you say such?
5
Theaetetus
Theaet. Not a true one by any means, but only one like the true.
Stranger
Str. And by the true you mean that which really is?
Theaetetus
Theaet. Exactly.
Stranger
Str. And the not true is the opposite of the true?
Theaetetus
Theaet. Of course.
10
Stranger
Str. That which is like, then, you say does not really exist, if you say it is not true.
Theaetetus
Theaet. But it does exist, in a way.
Stranger
Str. But not truly, you mean.
Theaetetus
Theaet. No, except that it is really a likeness.
Stranger
Str. Then what we call a likeness, though not really existing, really does exist?
15
Theaetetus
Theaet. Not-being does seem to have got into some such entanglement with being, and it is very absurd.
Stranger
Str. Of course it is absurd. You see, at any rate, how by this interchange of words the many-headed sophist has once more forced us against our will to admit that not-being exists in a way.
Theaetetus
Theaet. Yes, I see that very well.
Stranger
Str. Well then, how can we define his art without contradicting ourselves?
Theaetetus
Theaet. Why do you say that? What are you afraid of?
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