257
Stranger
Str. Let us consider another point and see if you agree with me.
15
Theaetetus
Theaet. What is it?
Stranger
Str. It seems to me that the nature of the other is all cut up into little bits, like knowledge.
Theaetetus
Theaet. What do you mean?
Stranger
Str. Knowledge, like other, is one, but each separate part of it which applies to some particular subject has a name of its own; hence there are many arts, as they are called, and kinds of knowledge, or sciences.
Theaetetus
Theaet. Yes, certainly.
20
Stranger
Str. And the same is true, by their nature, of the parts of the other, though it also is one concept.
Theaetetus
Theaet. Perhaps; but let us discuss the matter and see how it comes about.
Stranger
Str. Is there a part of the other which is opposed to the beautiful?
Theaetetus
Theaet. There is.
Stranger
Str. Shall we say that this is nameless or that it has a name?
25
Theaetetus
Theaet. That it has one; for that which in each case we call not-beautiful is surely the other of the nature of the beautiful and of nothing else.
Stranger
Str. Now, then, tell me something more.
Stranger
Str. Does it not result from this that the not-beautiful is a distinct part of some one class of being and also, again, opposed to some class of being?
Theaetetus
Theaet. Yes.
30
Stranger
Str. Then, apparently, it follows that the not-beautiful is a contrast of being with being.
Theaetetus
Theaet. Quite right.
Stranger
Str. Can we, then, in that case, say that the beautiful is more and the not-beautiful less a part of being?
Theaetetus
Theaet. Not at all.
