Thesauros Literature Philosophy Θεαίτητος

Θεαίτητος

Θεαίτητος Plato
195 SO.So also do those whose wax is hard; for the imprints lack depth. And imprints in soft wax are also indistinct, because they melt together and quickly become blurred; but if besides all this they are crowded upon one another through lack of room, in some mean little soul, they are still more indistinct. So all these men are likely to have false opinions. For when they see or hear or think of anything, they cannot quickly assign things to the right imprints, but are slow about it, and because they assign them wrongly they usually see and hear and think amiss. These men, in turn, are accordingly said to be deceived about realities and ignorant.
195 THEAET. You are right as right could be, Socrates.
195 SOC. Shall we, then, say that false opinions exist in us?
195 THEAET. Assuredly.
195 SOC. And true opinions, no doubt?
195 THEAET. And true ones also.
195 SOC. Then now at last we think we have reached a valid agreement, that these two kinds of opinion incontestably exist?
195 THEAET. Most emphatically.
195 SOC. Truly, Theaetetus, a garrulous man is a strange and unpleasant creature!
195 THEAET. Eh? What makes you say that?
195 SOC. Vexation at my own stupidity and genuine garrulity. For what else could you call it when a man drags his arguments up and down because he is so stupid that he cannot be convinced, and is hardly to be induced to give up any one of them?
195 THEAET. But you, why are you vexed?
195 SOC. I am not merely vexed, I am actually afraid; for I do not know what answer to make if anyone asks me: Socrates, have you found out, I wonder, that false opinion exists neither in the relations of the perceptions to one another nor in the thoughts, but in the combination of perception with thought? I shall say yes, I suppose, and put on airs, as if we had made a fine discovery.
195 THEAET. It seems to me, Socrates, that the result we have now brought out is not half bad.

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