237
Str. And he who says not something, must quite necessarily say absolutely nothing.
237
Theaet. Quite necessarily.
237
Str. Then we cannot even concede that such a person speaks, but says nothing? We must even declare that he who undertakes to say not-being does not speak at all?
237
Theaet. The argument could go no further in perplexity.
238
Str. Boast not too soon! For there still remains, my friend, the first and greatest of perplexities. It affects the very beginning of the matter.
238
Theaet. What do you mean? Do not hesitate to speak.
238
Str. To that which is may be added or attributed some other thing which is?
238
Theaet. Of course.
238
Str. But shall we assert that to that which is not anything which is can be attributed?
238
Theaet. Certainly not.
238
Str. Now we assume that all number is among the things which are.
238
Theaet. Yes, if anything can be assumed to be.
238
Str. Then let us not even undertake to attribute either the singular or the plural of number to not-being.
238
Theaet. We should, apparently, not be right in undertaking that, as our argument shows.
238
Str. How then could a man either utter in speech or even so much as conceive in his mind things which are not, or not-being, apart from number?
238
Theaet. Tell me how number is involved in such conceptions.
238
Str. When we say things which are not, do we not attribute plurality to them?
238
Theaet. Certainly.
238
Str. And in saying a thing which is not, do we not equally attribute the singular number?
238
Theaet. Obviously.
238
Str. And yet we assert that it is neither right nor fair to undertake to attribute being to not-being.
238
Theaet. Very true.
238
Str. Do you see, then, that it is impossible rightly to utter or to say or to think of not-being without any attribute, but it is a thing inconceivable, inexpressible, unspeakable, irrational?
238
Theaet. Absolutely.
238
Str. Then was I mistaken just now in saying that the difficulty I was going to speak of was the greatest in our subject.
238
Theaet. But is there a still greater one that we can mention?