245–246
Stranger
Str. That which comes into existence always comes into existence as a whole. Therefore no one who does not reckon the whole among things that are can speak of existence or generation as being.
Theaetetus
Theaet. That certainly seems to be true.
Stranger
Str. And moreover, that which is not a whole cannot have any quantity at all; for if it has any quantity, whatever that quantity may be, it must necessarily be of that quantity as a whole.
Theaetetus
Theaet. Precisely.
Stranger
Str. And so countless other problems, each one involving infinite difficulties, will confront him who says that being is, whether it be two or only one.
25
Theaetetus
Theaet. The problems now in sight make that pretty clear; for each leads up to another which brings greater and more grievous wandering in connection with whatever has previously been said.
Stranger
Str. Now we have not discussed all those who treat accurately of being and not-being The Ionic philosophers, the Eleatics, Heracleitus, Empedocles, the Megarians, Gorgias, Protagoras, and Antisthenes all discussed the problem of being and not-being.; however, let this suffice. But we must turn our eyes to those whose doctrines are less precise, that we may know from all sources that it is no easier to define the nature of being than that of not-being.
Theaetetus
Theaet. Very well, then, we must proceed towards those others also.
Stranger
Str. And indeed there seems to be a battle like that of the gods and the giants going on among them, because of their disagreement about existence.
Theaetetus
Theaet. How so?
