Page - 925 - in The Complete Plato

which arithmetic and mensuration enter, far surpass all others; and that of these the arts or sciences which are animated by the pure philosophic impulse are infinitely superior in accuracy and truth. SOCRATES: Then this is your judgment; and this is the answer which, upon your authority, we will give to all masters of the art of misinterpretation? PROTARCHUS: What answer? SOCRATES: That there are two arts of arithmetic, and two of mensuration; and also several other arts which in like manner have this double nature, and yet only one name. PROTARCHUS: Let us boldly return this answer to the masters of whom you speak, Socrates, and hope for good luck. SOCRATES: We have explained what we term the most exact arts or sciences. PROTARCHUS: Very good. SOCRATES: And yet, Protarchus, dialectic will refuse to acknowledge us, if we do not award to her the first place. PROTARCHUS: And pray, what is dialectic? SOCRATES: Clearly the science which has to do with all that knowledge of which we are now speaking; for I am sure that all men who have a grain of intelligence will admit that the knowledge which has to do with being and reality, and sameness and unchangeableness, is by far the truest of all. But how would you decide this question, Protarchus? PROTARCHUS: I have often heard Gorgias maintain, Socrates, that the art of persuasion far surpassed every other; this, as he says, is by far the best of them all, for to it all things submit, not by compulsion, but of their own free will. Now, I should not like to quarrel either with you or with him. SOCRATES: You mean to say that you would like to desert, if you were not ashamed? PROTARCHUS: As you please. SOCRATES: May I not have led you into a misapprehension? PROTARCHUS: How? SOCRATES: Dear Protarchus, I never asked which was the greatest or best or usefullest of arts or sciences, but which had clearness and accuracy, and the greatest amount of truth, however humble and little useful an art. And as for 925