STRANGER: Quite right; I will try and remember the fifth myself. He

belonged to the fighting class, and was further distinguished as a hero

of debate, who professed the eristic art.

THEAETETUS: True.

STRANGER: The sixth point was doubtful, and yet we at last agreed

that he was a purger of souls, who cleared away notions obstructive to

knowledge.

THEAETETUS: Very true.

STRANGER: Do you not see that when the professor of any art has one

name and many kinds of knowledge, there must be something wrong? The

multiplicity of names which is applied to him shows that the common

principle to which all these branches of knowledge are tending, is not

understood.

THEAETETUS: I should imagine this to be the case.

STRANGER: At any rate we will understand him, and no indolence shall

prevent us. Let us begin again, then, and re-examine some of our

statements concerning the Sophist; there was one thing which appeared to

me especially characteristic of him.

THEAETETUS: To what are you referring?