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Dialectic alone rises to the principle which is above hypotheses,

converting and gently leading the eye of the soul out of the

barbarous slough of ignorance into the light of the upper world,

with the help of the sciences which we have been

describing-sciences, as they are often termed, although they

require some other name, implying greater clearness than opinion

and less clearness than science, and this in our previous sketch

was understanding. And so we get four names-two for intellect,

and two for opinion,-reason or mind, understanding, faith,

perception of shadows-which make a proportion-

being:becoming::intellect:opinion-and

science:belief::understanding: perception of shadows. Dialectic

may be further described as that science which defines and

explains the essence or being of each nature, which distinguishes

and abstracts the good, and is ready to do battle against all

opponents in the cause of good.