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SOCRATES： Doxa is either derived from dioxis （pursuit）； and expresses the
march of the soul in the pursuit of knowledge； or from the shooting of a
bow （toxon）； the latter is more likely； and is confirmed by oiesis
（thinking）； which is only oisis （moving）； and implies the movement of the
soul to the essential nature of each thingjust as boule （counsel） has to
do with shooting （bole）； and boulesthai （to wish） combines the notion of
aiming and deliberatingall these words seem to follow doxa； and all
involve the idea of shooting； just as aboulia； absence of counsel； on the
other hand； is a mishap； or missing； or mistaking of the mark； or aim； or
proposal； or object。
HERMOGENES： You are quickening your pace now； Socrates。
SOCRATES： Why yes； the end I now dedicate to God； not； however； until I
have explained anagke （necessity）； which ought to come next； and ekousion
（the voluntary）。 Ekousion is certainly the yielding （eikon） and
unresistingthe notion implied is yielding and not opposing； yielding； as
I was just now saying； to that motion which is in accordance with our will；
but the necessary and resistant being contrary to our will； implies error
and ignorance； the idea is taken from walking through a ravine which is
impassable； and rugged； and overgrown； and impedes motionand this is the
derivation of the word anagkaion （necessary） an agke ion； going through a
ravine。 But while my strength lasts let us persevere； and I hope that you
will persevere with your questions。
HERMOGENES： Well； then； let me ask about the greatest and noblest； such as
aletheia （truth） and pseudos （falsehood） and on （being）； not forgetting to
enquire why the word onoma （name）； which is the theme of our discussion；
has this name of onoma。
SOCRATES： You know the word maiesthai （to seek）？
HERMOGENES： Yes；meaning the same as zetein （to enquire）。
SOCRATES： The word onoma seems to be a compressed sentence； signifying on
ou zetema （being for which there is a search）； as is still more obvious in
onomaston （notable）； which states in so many words that real existence is
that for which there is a seeking （on ou masma）； aletheia is also an
agglomeration of theia ale （divine wandering）； implying the divine motion
of existence； pseudos （falsehood） is the opposite of motion； here is
another ill name given by the legislator to stagnation and forced inaction；
which he compares to sleep （eudein）； but the original meaning of the word
is disguised by the addition of psi； on and ousia are ion with an iota
broken off； this agrees with the true principle； for being （on） is also
moving （ion）； and the same may be said of not being； which is likewise
called not going （oukion or ouki on = ouk ion）。
HERMOGENES： You have hammered away at them manfully； but suppose that some
one were to say to you； what is the word ion； and what are reon and doun？
show me their fitness。
SOCRATES： You mean to say； how should I answer him？
HERMOGENES： Yes。
SOCRATES： One way of giving the appearance of an answer has been already
suggested。
HERMOGENES： What way？
SOCRATES： To say that names which we do not understand are of foreign
origin； and this is very likely the right answer； and something of this
kind may be true of them； but also the original forms of words may have
been lost in the lapse of ages； names have been so twisted in all manner of
ways； that I should not be surprised if the old language when compared with
that now in use would appear to us to be a barbarous tongue。
HERMOGENES： Very likely。
SOCRATES： Yes； very likely。 But still the enquiry demands our earnest
attention and we must not flinch。 For we should remember； that if a person
go on analysing names into words； and enquiring also into the elements out
of which the words are formed； and keeps on always repeating this process；
he who has to answer him must at last give up the enquiry in despair。
HERMOGENES： Very true。
SOCRATES： And at what point ought he to lose heart and give up the
enquiry？ Must he not stop when he comes to the names which are the
elements of all other names and sentences； for these cannot be supposed to
be made up of other names？ The word agathon （good）； for example； is； as we
were saying； a compound of agastos （admirable） and thoos （swift）。 And
probably thoos is made up of other elements； and these again of others。
But if we take a word which is incapable of further resolution； then we
shall be right in saying that we have at last reached a primary element；
which need not be resolved any further。
HERMOGENES： I believe you to be in the right。
SOCRATES： And suppose the names about which you are now asking should turn
out to be primary elements； must not their truth or law be examined
according to some new method？
HERMOGENES： Very likely。
SOCRATES： Quite so； Hermogenes； all that has preceded would lead to this
conclusion。 And if； as I think； the conclusion is true； then I shall again
say to you； come and help me； that I may not fall into some absurdity in
stating the principle of primary names。
HERMOGENES： Let me hear； and I will do my best to assist you。
SOCRATES： I think that you will acknowledge with me； that one principle is
applicable to all names； primary as well as secondarywhen they are
regarded simply as names； there is no difference in them。
HERMOGENES： Certainly not。
SOCRATES： All the names that we have been explaining were intended to
indicate the nature of things。
HERMOGENES： Of course。
SOCRATES： And that this is true of the primary quite as much as of the
secondary names； is implied in their being names。
HERMOGENES： Surely。
SOCRATES： But the secondary； as I conceive； derive their significance from
the primary。
HERMOGENES： That is evident。
SOCRATES： Very good； but then how do the primary names which precede
analysis show the natures of things； as far as they can be shown； which
they must do； if they are to be real names？ And here I will ask you a
question： Suppose that we had no voice or tongue； and wanted to
communicate with one another； should we not； like the deaf and dumb； make
signs with the hands and head and the rest of the body？
HERMOGENES： There would be no choice； Socrates。
SOCRATES： We should imitate the nature of the thing； the elevation of our
hands to heaven would mean lightness and upwardness； heaviness and
downwardness would be expressed by letting them drop to the ground； if we
were describing the running of a horse； or any other animal； we should make
our bodies and their gestures as like as we could to them。
HERMOGENES： I do not see that we could do anything else。
SOCRATES： We could not； for by bodily imitation only can the body ever
express anything。
HERMOGENES： Very true。
SOCRATES： And when we want to express ourselves； either with the voice； or
tongue； or mouth； the expres