219
Stranger
Str. But I hope he offers us a method and is capable of a definition not unsuitable to our purpose.
Theaetetus
Theaet. That would be good.
Stranger
Str. Come now; let us begin with him in this way: Tell me, shall we say that he is a man with an art, or one without an art, but having some other power?
Theaetetus
Theaet. Certainly not one without an art.
5
Stranger
Str. But of all arts there are, speaking generally, two kinds?
Theaetetus
Theaet. How so?
Stranger
Str. Agriculture and all kinds of care of any living beings, and that which has to do with things which are put together or molded (utensils we call them), and the art of imitation—all these might properly be called by one name.
Theaetetus
Theaet. How so, and what is the name?
Stranger
Str. When anyone brings into being something which did not previously exist, we say that he who brings it into being produces it and that which is brought into being is produced.
10
Theaetetus
Theaet. Certainly.
Stranger
Str. Now all the arts which we have just mentioned direct their energy to production.
Theaetetus
Theaet. Yes, they do.
Stranger
Str. Let us, then, call these collectively the productive art.
Theaetetus
Theaet. Agreed.
15
Stranger
Str. And after this comes the whole class of learning and that of acquiring knowledge, and money making, and fighting, and hunting. None of these is creative, but they are all engaged in coercing, by deeds or words, things which already exist and have been produced, or in preventing others from coercing them; therefore all these divisions together might very properly be called acquisitive art.
Theaetetus
Theaet. Yes, that would be proper.
