Note 58 — Chapter VIII · PLATONIC COMPOSITIONS GENERALLY.

Plato, Parmenid. p. 136 B. δεῖ σκοπεῖν — εἰ μέλλεις τελέως γυμνασάμενος κυρίως διόψεσθαι τὸ ἀληθές. Ἀμήχανον, ἔφη, λέγεις, ὦ Παρμενίδη, πραγματείαν, &c.

Aristotle declares that no man can be properly master of any affirmative truth without having examined and solved all the objections and difficulties — the negative portion of the enquiry. To go through all these ἀπορίας is the indispensable first stage, and perhaps the enquirer may not be able to advance farther, see Metaphysic. B. 995, a. 26, 996, a. 16 — one of the most striking passages in his works. Compare also what he says, De Cœlo, ii. 294, b. 10, διὸ δεῖ τὸν μέλλοντα καλῶς ζητήσειν ἐνστατικὸν εἶναι διὰ τῶν οἰκείων ἐνστάσεων τῷ γένει, τοῦτο δὲ ἐστὶν ἐκ τοῦ πάσας τεθεωρηκέναι τὰς διαφοράς.