contradict reason.

THEAETETUS: I understand.

STRANGER: Shall we say that being is one and a whole, because it has the

attribute of unity? Or shall we say that being is not a whole at all?

THEAETETUS: That is a hard alternative to offer.

STRANGER: Most true; for being, having in a certain sense the attribute

of one, is yet proved not to be the same as one, and the all is

therefore more than one.

THEAETETUS: Yes.

STRANGER: And yet if being be not a whole, through having the attribute

of unity, and there be such a thing as an absolute whole, being lacks

something of its own nature?

THEAETETUS: Certainly.

STRANGER: Upon this view, again, being, having a defect of being, will

become not-being?

THEAETETUS: True.

Sophist