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 unmeaning.
Socrates: But if he cannot know both without knowing each, then if he is ever to know the syllable, he must know the letters first; and thus the fine theory has again taken wings and departed.
Theaetetus: Yes, with wonderful celerity.
Socrates: Yes, we did not keep watch properly. Perhaps we ought to have maintained that a syllable is not the letters, but rather one single idea framed out of them, having a separate form distinct from them.
Theaetetus: Very true; and a more likely notion than the other.
Socrates: Take care; let us not be cowards and betray a great and imposing theory.
Theaetetus: No, indeed.
Socrates: Let us assume then, as we now say, that the syllable is a simple form arising out of the several combinations of harmonious elements—of letters or of any other elements.
Theaetetus: Very good.
Socrates: And it must have no parts.
Theaetetus: Why?
Socrates: Because that which has parts must be a whole of all the parts. Or would you say that a whole, although formed out of the parts, is a single notion different from all the parts?
Theaetetus: I should.
Socrates: And would you say that all and the whole are the same, or different?
Theaetetus: I am not certain; but, as you like me to answer at once, I shall hazard the reply, that they are different.
Socrates: I approve of your readiness, Theaetetus, but I must take time to think whether I equally approve of your answer.
Theaetetus: Yes; the answer is the point.
Socrates: According to this new view, the whole is supposed to differ from all?
Theaetetus: Yes.
Socrates: Well, but is there any difference between all (in the plural) and the all (in the singular)? Take the case of number:—When we say one, two, three, four, five, six; or when we say twice three, or three times two, or four and two, or three and two and one, are we speaking of the same or of different numbers?
Theaetetus: Of the same.