Seite - 659 - in The Complete Plato

definition? THEAETETUS: I think so. SOCRATES: I think so too; for, suppose that some one asks you to spell the first syllable of my name:—Theaetetus, he says, what is SO? THEAETETUS: I should reply S and O. SOCRATES: That is the definition which you would give of the syllable? THEAETETUS: I should. SOCRATES: I wish that you would give me a similar definition of the S. THEAETETUS: But how can any one, Socrates, tell the elements of an element? I can only reply, that S is a consonant, a mere noise, as of the tongue hissing; B, and most other letters, again, are neither vowel-sounds nor noises. Thus letters may be most truly said to be undefined; for even the most distinct of them, which are the seven vowels, have a sound only, but no definition at all. SOCRATES: Then, I suppose, my friend, that we have been so far right in our idea about knowledge? THEAETETUS: Yes; I think that we have. SOCRATES: Well, but have we been right in maintaining that the syllables can be known, but not the letters? THEAETETUS: I think so. SOCRATES: And do we mean by a syllable two letters, or if there are more, all of them, or a single idea which arises out of the combination of them? THEAETETUS: I should say that we mean all the letters. SOCRATES: Take the case of the two letters S and O, which form the first syllable of my own name; must not he who knows the syllable, know both of them? THEAETETUS: Certainly. SOCRATES: He knows, that is, the S and O? THEAETETUS: Yes. SOCRATES: But can he be ignorant of either singly and yet know both together? THEAETETUS: Such a supposition, Socrates, is monstrous and 659