THEAETETUS: Very true.

STRANGER: But perhaps you mean to give the name of 'being' to both of

them together?

THEAETETUS: Quite likely.

STRANGER: 'Then, friends,' we shall reply to them, 'the answer is

plainly that the two will still be resolved into one.'

THEAETETUS: Most true.

STRANGER: 'Since, then, we are in a difficulty, please to tell us what

you mean, when you speak of being; for there can be no doubt that you

always from the first understood your own meaning, whereas we once

thought that we understood you, but now we are in a great strait. Please

to begin by explaining this matter to us, and let us no longer fancy

that we understand you, when we entirely misunderstand you.' There will

be no impropriety in our demanding an answer to this question, either of

the dualists or of the pluralists?

THEAETETUS: Certainly not.

STRANGER: And what about the assertors of the oneness of the all--must

we not endeavour to ascertain from them what they mean by 'being'?

Sophist