Euthydemus

Plato, 427？ BCE-347？ BCEProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.7

Word count: 114K words
Chapters: 12

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Euthydemus by PlatoAuthor: Plato, 427? BCE-347? BCE,Language: English, Class: PA: Language and Literatures: Classical Languages and Literature, Release Date: Jan 1, 1999

Editor's review

Euthydemus is Plato's dialogue on disputation and education, centered on two sophists whose skill lies in winning arguments; Socrates' encounter with them brings out the difference between sophistry and philosophical inquiry. This Project Gutenberg English edition is a public-domain ebook in the Classical Languages and Literature category, with a directly accessible text, and makes useful supplementary reading for understanding Plato's contrast between argument for victory and the pursuit of knowledge. Its highlight is the abundance of wordplay and logical traps, which call for vigilance in distinguishing serious argument from deliberate confusion. It suits reading alongside dialogues such as Symposium, or use as discussion material in logic or rhetoric courses; the electronic edition allows keyword searches and repeated cross-checking of passages.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in disputation and sophistry in Plato's dialogues
Students and teachers of logic, rhetoric or classical philosophy
Readers who need an English public-domain text for supplementary course reading
Careful readers who enjoy analyzing wordplay and argumentative traps

Not a good fit for

Readers who want only Plato's most famous works and avoid minor dialogues
Beginners with limited stamina for English reading who need line-by-line modern Chinese notes
Readers who expect a complete history of philosophy rather than a single dialogue

Reading tips

Mark obvious sophistries as you read, then go back to see how Socrates responds.
Excerpt the dialogue's wordplay separately and analyze how it confuses concepts.
Read alongside Symposium and compare the argumentative styles of different Platonic scenes.
Slow down at convoluted passages; confirm premises and conclusions before judging whether they hold.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

What is Euthydemus mainly about?

The information shows only that it is a dialogue by Plato in the Classical Languages and Literature category. In general public-domain knowledge, it unfolds through Socrates' encounter with two sophists and deals with disputation, education and what true inquiry is; readers can take it as Plato's text on sophistry and philosophy.

Do I need to read other dialogues first?

Not strictly, but starting with more accessible dialogues such as Symposium makes it easier to get used to Plato's characters and questioning. This work has a strong sophistic element; those new to Plato may read introductory material first to be less frustrated by the wordplay.

Does this electronic edition include notes?

The information does not indicate notes or an introduction; it identifies the edition only as a Project Gutenberg public-domain English ebook. Readers who need detailed notes may find an annotated translation to read alongside; this edition suits those with some background who can map the arguments themselves.

Why is it suitable for logic courses?

The dialogue is full of inferences that seem valid but confuse concepts, making it ideal as negative examples in a logic class. Teachers can have students judge whether an argument is valid, then compare Socrates' response, training the ability to spot equivocation, ambiguity and other common fallacies.

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About the author

Plato, 427？ BCE-347？ BCE Author

Plato (c. 427–347 BCE) was an ancient Greek philosopher. Reliable details of his life are limited in public sources, and his thought and writings are generally known through later accounts. The library holds 65 of his works, including the multi-volume Republic (Πολιτεία), the Symposium, and the Phaedo. These works are mostly dialogues with Socrates as the central figure, unfolding through question and answer around justice, the governance of the city, love, the soul, and knowledge, combining philosophical inquiry with dramatic literary form. The Republic, which discusses the ideal city and justice, is especially influential. Plato's style is marked by analogy, argument, and open-ended conclusions, and he has had a lasting influence on later Western philosophy and political thought.