  F-ness is in relation to other things, if being links F-ness  to something other than itself. For instance, change is  different from rest. Here being links change to difference, and  difference relates change to something other than change. Or change  is the same as itself: “When we say change is the same as itself, we speak in this way because of its participation in  the same in relation to itself [pros  heautên])” (Sophist 256a–b). Being links change to sameness, and sameness relates change to itself.