THEAETETUS: Yes, there are many such; which of them do you mean?

STRANGER: I mean such as sifting, straining, winnowing, threshing.

THEAETETUS: Certainly.

STRANGER: And besides these there are a great many more, such as

carding, spinning, adjusting the warp and the woof; and thousands of

similar expressions are used in the arts.

THEAETETUS: Of what are they to be patterns, and what are we going to do

with them all?

STRANGER: I think that in all of these there is implied a notion of

division.

THEAETETUS: Yes.

STRANGER: Then if, as I was saying, there is one art which includes all

of them, ought not that art to have one name?

THEAETETUS: And what is the name of the art?

STRANGER: The art of discerning or discriminating.

THEAETETUS: Very good.

Sophist