Summary

In the early morning, Philonous finds Hylas lost in thought in a garden. Philonous asks Hylas why he is so distressed, and Hylas reveals that a philosophical discussion left him disturbed by the thought of the all those famous philosophers who, despite devoting their entire life to wisdom, claim to know less than common men. Philonous agrees and tells Hylas he has recently abandoned many mainstream philosophical views precisely for this reason. But when Hylas discovers that the belief Philonous has given up is the belief in the existence of matter, he is shocked; nothing could be more certain than that the physical world exists.

In response, Philonous gives Hylas a philosophical challenge; if Philonous can prove that his view results in the least skepticism and fewest paradoxes, Hylas must adopt it. Hylas accepts. Through conversation with Hylas, Philonous settles...