Sophist by Plato. - HTML preview

101

Sophist – Plato

THEAETETUS: I suppose that you are referring THEAETETUS: Happy would mankind be if such to the precepts of Protagoras about wrestling and a thing were possible!

the other arts?

SOCRATES: But how can any one who is igno-STRANGER: Yes, my friend, and about a good rant dispute in a rational manner against him many other things. In a word, is not the art of who knows?

disputation a power of disputing about all things?

THEAETETUS: He cannot.

THEAETETUS: Certainly; there does not seem to be much which is left out.

STRANGER: Then why has the sophistical art such a mysterious power?

STRANGER: But oh! my dear youth, do you suppose this possible? for perhaps your young eyes may THEAETETUS: To what do you refer?

see things which to our duller sight do not appear.

STRANGER: How do the Sophists make young men THEAETETUS: To what are you alluding? I do not believe in their supreme and universal wisdom?

think that I understand your present question.

For if they neither disputed nor were thought to dispute rightly, or being thought to do so were STRANGER: I ask whether anybody can under-deemed no wiser for their controversial skill, then, stand all things.

to quote your own observation, no one would give them money or be willing to learn their art.