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[258b]

Stranger
Then, as it seems, the opposition of the nature of a part of the other, and of the nature of being, when they are opposed to one another, is no less truly existence than is being itself, if it is not wrong for me to say so, for it signifies not the opposite of being, but only the other of being, and nothing more.

Theaetetus
That is perfectly clear.

Stranger
Then what shall we call this?

Theaetetus
Evidently this is precisely not-being, which we were looking for because of the sophist.

Stranger
And is this, as you were saying, as fully endowed with being as anything else, and shall we henceforth say with confidence that not-being has an assured existence and a nature of its own?


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