not an easy task; for among the ancients there was some confusion

of ideas, which prevented them from attempting to divide genera into

species; wherefore there is no great abundance of names. Yet, for the

sake of distinctness, I will make bold to call the imitation which

coexists with opinion, the imitation of appearance--that which coexists

with science, a scientific or learned imitation.

THEAETETUS: Granted.

STRANGER: The former is our present concern, for the Sophist was classed

with imitators indeed, but not among those who have knowledge.

THEAETETUS: Very true.

STRANGER: Let us, then, examine our imitator of appearance, and see

whether he is sound, like a piece of iron, or whether there is still

some crack in him.

THEAETETUS: Let us examine him.

STRANGER: Indeed there is a very considerable crack; for if you look,

you find that one of the two classes of imitators is a simple creature,

who thinks that he knows that which he only fancies; the other sort has

knocked about among arguments, until he suspects and fears that he is

ignorant of that which to the many he pretends to know.

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