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4
There are some who, as we said, both themselves assert that it
is possible for the same thing to be and not to be, and say that
people can judge this to be the case. And among others many writers
about nature use this language. But we have now posited that it is
impossible for anything at the same time to be and not to be, and by
this means have shown that this is the most indisputable of all
principles.-Some indeed demand that even this shall be demonstrated,
but this they do through want of education, for not to know of what
things one should demand demonstration, and of what one should not,
argues want of education. For it is impossible that there should be
demonstration of absolutely everything (there would be an infinite
regress, so that there would still be no demonstration); but if
there are things of which one should not demand demonstration, these
persons could not say what principle they maintain to be more
self-evident than the present one.
We can, however, demonstrate negatively even that this view is
impossible, if our opponent will only say something; and if he says
nothing, it is absurd to seek to give an account of our views to one
who cannot give an account of anything, in so far as he cannot do
so. For such a man, as such, is from the start no better than a
vegetable. Now negative demonstration I distinguish from demonstration
proper, because in a demonstration one might be thought to be
begging the question, but if another person is responsible for the
assumption we shall have negative proof, not demonstration
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