Stranger: And of arts there are two kinds?
Theaetetus: What are they?
Stranger: There is agriculture, and the tending of mortal creatures, and the art of constructing or moulding vessels, and there is the art of imitation—all these may be appropriately called by a single name.
Theaetetus: What do you mean? And what is the name?
Stranger: He who brings into existence something that did not exist before is said to be a producer, and that which is brought into existence is said to be produced.
Theaetetus: True.
Stranger: And all the arts which were just now mentioned are characterized by this power of producing?
Theaetetus: They are.
Stranger: Then let us sum them up under the name of productive or creative art.
Theaetetus: Very good.
Stranger: Next follows the whole class of learning and cognition; then comes trade, fighting, hunting. And since none of these produces anything, but is only engaged in conquering by word or deed, or in preventing others from conquering, things which exist and have been already produced—in each and all of these branches there appears to be an art which may be called acquisitive.
Theaetetus: Yes, that is the proper name.
Stranger: Seeing, then, that all arts are either acquisitive or creative, in which class shall we place the art of the angler?
Theaetetus: Clearly in the acquisitive class.
Stranger: And the acquisitive may be subdivided into two parts: there is exchange, which is voluntary and is effected by gifts, hire, purchase; and the other part of acquisitive, which takes by force of word or deed, may be termed conquest?
Theaetetus: That is implied in what has been said.
Stranger: And may not conquest be again subdivided?
Theaetetus: How?
Stranger: Open force may be called fighting, and secret force may have the general name of hunting?
Theaetetus: Yes.
Stranger: And there is no reason why the art of hunting should not be further divided.
Theaetetus: How would you make the division?
Stranger: Into the hunting of living and of lifeless prey.
Theaetetus: Yes, if both kinds exist.
Stranger: Of course they exist; but the hunting after lifeless things having no special name, except some sorts of diving, and other small matters, may be omitted; the hunting after living things may be called animal hunting.