277–278
Stranger
Str. It is difficult, my dear fellow, to set forth any of the greater ideas, except by the use of examples; for it would seem that each of us knows everything that he knows as if in a dream and then again, when he is as it were awake, knows nothing of it all.
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. What do you mean by that?
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Stranger
Str. I seem at present in absurd fashion to have touched upon our experience in regard to knowledge.
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. In what respect?
Stranger
Str. Why, my friend, the very example I employ requires another example. i.e. the nature of example is to be explained below by means of an example. The example of the letters of the alphabet is employed also in the Plat. Theaet. 202 ff, but the Stranger cannot properly refer to that, as he was not present at the time. Or is this a dramatic slip on Plato’s part?
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. Indeed? What is it? Don’t hesitate to tell on my account.
Stranger
Str. I will tell, since you on your part are prepared to listen. We know that children, when they are just getting some knowledge of letters—
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Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. Well?
Stranger
Str. Recognize the several letters well enough in the short and easy syllables, and can make correct statements about them.
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. Yes, of course.
Stranger
Str. And then again in other syllables they are in doubt about those same letters, and err in opinion and speech about them.
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. Yes, certainly.
Stranger
Str. Would not the easiest and best way to lead them to the letters which they do not yet know be this?
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. What?
