are an old man. And now, as you say, leaving the discussion of the

name,--can you see a way in which a person, by showing the art of

herding to be of two kinds, may cause that which is now sought amongst

twice the number of things, to be then sought amongst half that number?

YOUNG SOCRATES: I will try;--there appears to me to be one management of

men and another of beasts.

STRANGER: You have certainly divided them in a most straightforward and

manly style; but you have fallen into an error which hereafter I think

that we had better avoid.

YOUNG SOCRATES: What is the error?

STRANGER: I think that we had better not cut off a single small portion

which is not a species, from many larger portions; the part should be a

species. To separate off at once the subject of investigation, is a most

excellent plan, if only the separation be rightly made; and you were

under the impression that you were right, because you saw that you would

come to man; and this led you to hasten the steps. But you should not

chip off too small a piece, my friend; the safer way is to cut through

the middle; which is also the more likely way of finding classes.

Attention to this principle makes all the difference in a process of

enquiry.

YOUNG SOCRATES: What do you mean, Stranger?

Statesman