True.
But when we speak of the part participating in the one, it must
clearly be other than one; for if not, it would merely have
participated, but would have been one; whereas only the itself can
be one.
Very true.
Both the whole and the part must participate in the one; for the
whole will be one whole, of which the parts will be parts; and each
part will be one part of the whole which is the whole of the part.
True.
And will not the things which participate in the one, be other
than it?
Of course.
And the things which are other than the one will be many; for if the
things which are other than the one were neither one nor more than
one, they would be nothing.
True.
But, seeing that the things which participate in the one as a
part, and in the one as a whole, are more than one, must not those
very things which participate in the one be infinite in number?
How so?
Let us look at the matter thus:-Is it not a fact that in partaking
of the one they are not one, and do not partake of the one at the very
time. when they are partaking of it?
Clearly.
They do so then as multitudes in which the one is not present?
Very true.
And if we were to abstract from them in idea the very smallest
fraction, must not that least fraction, if it does not partake of
the one, be a multitude and not one?
It must.
And if we continue to look at the other side of their nature,
regarded simply, and in itself, will not they, as far as we see
them, be unlimited in number?
Certainly.
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