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360 BC
SOPHIST
by Plato
translated by Benjamin Jowett
SOPHIST
PERSONS OF THE DIALOGUE： THEODORUS； THEAETETUS； SOCRATES；
An ELEATIC STRANGER； whom Theodorus and Theaetetus bring
with them； The younger SOCRATES； who is a silent auditor
Theodorus。 Here we are； Socrates； true to our agreement of
yesterday； and we bring with us a stranger from Elea； who is a
disciple of Parmenides and Zeno； and a true philosopher。
Socrates。 Is he not rather a god； Theodorus； who comes to us in
the disguise of a stranger？ For Homer says that all the gods； and
especially the god of strangers； are companions of the meek and
just； and visit the good and evil among men。 And may not your
companion be one of those higher powers； a cross…examining deity；
who has come to spy out our weakness in argument； and to
cross…examine
us？
Theod。 Nay； Socrates； he is not one of the disputatious sort…he is
too good for that。 And； in my opinion； he is not a god at all； but
divine he certainly is； for this is a title which I should
give to all
philosophers。
Soc。 Capital； my friend！ and I may add that they are almost as
hard to be discerned as the gods。 For the true philosophers； and
such as are not merely made up for the occasion； appear in various
forms unrecognized by the ignorance of men； and they 〃hover about
cities；〃 as Homer declares； looking from above upon human life； and
some think nothing of them； and others can never think enough； and
sometimes they appear as statesmen； and sometimes as sophists； and
then； again； to many they seem to be no better than madmen。 I should
like to ask our Eleatic friend； if he would tell us； what is thought
about them in Italy； and to whom the terms are applied。
Theod。 What terms？
Soc。 Sophist； statesman； philosopher。
Theod。 What is your difficulty about them； and what made you ask？
Soc。 I want to know whether by his countrymen they are regarded as
one or two； or do they； as the names are three； distinguish
also three
kinds； and assign one to each name？
Theod。 I dare say that the Stranger will not object to discuss the
question。 What do you say； Stranger？
Stranger。 I am far from objecting； Theodorus； nor have I any
difficulty in replying that by us they are regarded as three。 But to
define precisely the nature of each of them is by no means a
slight or
easy task。
Theod。 You have happened to light； Socrates； almost on the very
question which we were asking our friend before we came
hither； and he
excused himself to us； as he does now you； although he admitted that
the matter had been fully discussed； and that he remembered the
answer。
Soc。 Then do not； Stranger； deny us the first favour which
we ask of
you： I am sure that you will not； and therefore I shall only beg of
you to say whether you like and are accustomed to make a long
oration on a subject which you want to explain to another； or to
proceed by the method of question and answer。 I remember hearing a
very noble discussion in which Parmenides employed the latter of the
two methods； when I was a young man； and he was far advanced
in years。
Str。 I prefer to talk with another when he responds pleasantly；
and is light in hand； if not； I would rather have my own say。
Soc。 Any one of the present company will respond kindly to you；
and you can choose whom you like of them； I should recommend you to
take a young person…Theaetetus； for example…unless you have a
preference for some one else。
Str。 I feel ashamed； Socrates； being a new comer into your
society； instead of talking a little and hearing others talk； to be
spinning out a long soliloquy or address； as if I wanted to show
off。 For the true answer will certainly be a very long one； a great
deal longer than might be expected from such a short and simple
question。 At the same time； I fear that I may seem rude and
ungracious
if I refuse your courteous request； especially after what you have
said。 For I certainly cannot object to your proposal； that
Theaetetus should respond； having already conversed with him myself；
and being recommended by you to take him。
Theaetetus。 But are you sure； Stranger； that this will be quite so
acceptable to the rest of the company as Socrates imagines？
Str。 You hear them applauding； Theaetetus； after that； there is
nothing more to be said。 Well then； I am to argue with you；
and if you
tire of the argument； you may complain of your friends and not of me。
Theaet。 I do not think that I shall tire； and if I do； I shall get
my friend here； young Socrates； the namesake of the elder
Socrates； to
help； he is about my own age； and my partner at the gymnasium； and
is constantly accustomed to work with me。
Str。 Very good； you can decide about that for yourself as we
proceed。 Meanwhile you and I will begin together and enquire into
the nature of the Sophist； first of the three： I should like you to
make out what he is and bring him to light in a discussion； for at
present we are only agreed about the name； but of the thing to which
we both apply the name possibly you have one notion and I another；
whereas we ought always to come to an understanding about the thing
itself in terms of a definition； and not merely about the name minus
the definition。 Now the tribe of Sophists which we are investigating
is not easily caught or defined； and the world has long ago agreed；
that if great subjects are to be adequately treated； they must be
studied in the lesser and easier instances of them before we proceed
to the greatest of all。 And as I know that the tribe of Sophists is
troublesome and hard to be caught； I should recommend that
we practise
beforehand the method which is to be applied to him on some
simple and
smaller thing； unless you can suggest a better way。
Theaet。 Indeed I cannot。
Str。 Then suppose that we work out some lesser example
which will be
a pattern of the greater？
Theaet。 Good。
Str。 What is there which is well known and not great； and is yet
as susceptible of definition as any larger thing？ Shall I say an
angler？ He is familiar to all of us； and not a very interesting or
important person。
Theaet。 He is not。
Str。 Yet I suspect that he will furnish us with the sort of
definition and line of enquiry which we want。
Theaet。 Very good。
Str。 Let us begin by asking whether he is a man having art or not
having art； but some other power。
Theaet。 He is clearly a man of art。
Str。 And of arts there are two kinds？
Theaet。 What are they？
Str。 There is agriculture； and the tending of mortal creatures；
and the art of constructing or moulding vessels； and there is the
art of imitation…all these may be appropriately called by a single
name。
Theaet。 What do you mean？ And what is the name？
Str。 He who brings into existence something that did not exist
before is said to be a producer； and that which is brought into
existence is said to be produced。
Theaet。 True。
Str。 And all the arts which were just now mentioned are
characterized by this power of producing？
Theaet。 They are。
Str。 Then let us sum them up under the name of productive or
creative art。
Theaet。 Very good。
Str。 Next follows the whole class of learning and cognition； then
comes trade； fighting； hunting。 And since none of these produces
anything； but is only engaged in conquering by word or deed； or in
preventing others from conquering； things which exist and have been
already produced…in each and all of these branches there
appears to be
an art which may be called acquisitive。
Theaet。 Yes； that is the proper name。
Str。 Seeing； then； that all arts are either acquisitive or
creative；
in which class shall we place the art of the angler？
Theaet。 Clearly in the acquisitive class。
Str。 And the acquisitive may be subdivided into two parts： there
is exchange； which is voluntary and is effected by gifts； hire；
purchas