249–250
Stranger
Str. Then the philosopher, who pays the highest honor to these things, must necessarily, as it seems, because of them refuse to accept the theory of those who say the universe is at rest, whether as a unity or in many forms, and must also refuse utterly to listen to those who say that being is universal motion; he must quote the children’s prayer, Nothing further seems to he known about this prayer. Stallbaum thought the reference was to a game in which the children said ὅσα ἀκίνητα καὶ κεκινημένα εἴη, may all unmoved things be moved. all things immovable and in motion, and must say that being and the universe consist of both.
Theaetetus
Theaet. Very true.
Stranger
Str. Do we not, then, seem to have attained at last a pretty good definition of being?
Theaetetus
Theaet. Certainly.
Stranger
Str. But dear me, Theaetetus! I think we are now going to discover the difficulty of the inquiry about being.
25
Theaetetus
Theaet. What is this again? What do you mean?
Stranger
Str. My dear fellow, don’t you see that we are now densely ignorant about it, but think that we are saying something worth while?
Theaetetus
Theaet. I think so, at any rate, and I do not at all understand what hidden error we have fallen into.
Stranger
Str. Then watch more closely and see whether, if we make these admissions, we may not justly be asked the same questions we asked a while ago of those who said the universe was hot and cold. Cf. 242d above.
Theaetetus
Theaet. What questions? Remind me.
