Sophist

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

4.6

Word count: 261K words
Chapters: 27

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.Sophist by PlatoAuthor: Plato, 427? BCE-347? BCE,Language: English, Class: PA: Language and Literatures: Classical Languages and Literature, Release Date: May 1, 1999

Editor's review

Sophist is one of the most methodologically valuable of Plato's late dialogues. Featuring the Eleatic Stranger and Theaetetus, it pursues the question "what exactly is a sophist?" through layer upon layer of inquiry; in the course of seeking a definition it advances the theory of the greatest kinds (megista genē), discussing how the most universal kinds—being, motion, rest, sameness, and difference—combine with one another, and from this arrives at a new understanding of "non-being." Its most famous passages are the repeated application and critical examination of the method of division (diaeresis) and the argument that "non-being" is in a sense "being"; these directly shaped the later development of metaphysics and logic. For readers who want to understand how Plato's theory of Forms moved toward late self-correction, this dialogue is an indispensable stage. One need not rush to accept its conclusions; what rewards attention more is the rhythm by which definitional attempts are repeatedly overturned and begun anew—precisely philosophy thinking being demonstrated live. The English translation is clear in language and well suited as an introductory text for entering Plato's late thought.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Students with a basic grasp of Plato's philosophy who wish to go deeper into his late thought
Undergraduates or graduate students studying the history of Western philosophy who need to read primary texts
Logic enthusiasts interested in definitional method and conceptual division
Readers who wish to read classical philosophical texts in English and improve their academic reading skills

Not a good fit for

General readers with no philosophical background who want an easy introduction
Readers expecting plot-driven narrative or a literary reading experience
Readers unaccustomed to dialogue-form argument who need systematic textbook-style exposition

Reading tips

First read an introduction or a relevant chapter of a history of philosophy to understand the overall background of Plato's late dialogues before entering the text.
While reading, note down the reasons each definitional attempt is overturned, and trace the specific steps of the method of division.
Read closely the passages on "non-being" and the greatest kinds, and compare different translations to deepen understanding.
After finishing, try restating the final definition of "sophist" in your own words to test whether you have truly followed the argument.

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

Is Sophist suitable for beginners in philosophy to read directly?

Not really recommended. This dialogue is a late work of Plato, dense in argument and dealing with abstract issues such as being, non-being, and the greatest kinds; without a background in the history of philosophy it is easy to get lost. It is advisable first to read more accessible dialogues such as the Apology and the Phaedo, or to read the relevant chapters in a history of philosophy, and then return to this dialogue.

What is the core question of this dialogue?

The core question is "what exactly is a sophist?" The dialogue repeatedly applies the method of division to define the sophist, yet in the process exposes the difficulties of the method itself, which in turn leads to discussion of whether "non-being" can be spoken of and how universal concepts combine with one another. The process of defining the sophist in fact becomes a process of testing philosophical method.

How difficult is the English translation to read?

This is a public-domain English translation; the language is on the whole clear, but the dialogue-form argument is tightly linked and contains many long sentences and technical terms. Readers with university-level English reading ability can complete it with the help of notes and an introduction; if it feels difficult, they may first read a Chinese translation for comparison and then return to the English text to appreciate the details of the argument.

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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.