Book
Sophist
Plato · translated by Benjamin Jowett
A visitor from Elea sets out, with the young Theaetetus, to define what a sophist is.
The Sophist is a late dialogue led by an Eleatic Stranger rather than Socrates. The search for a definition of the sophist leads into the problem of how it is possible to speak of what is not, and of being and falsehood.
This edition is the English translation by Benjamin Jowett.
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PERSONS OF THE DIALOGUE: Theodorus, Theaetetus, Socrates. An Eleatic Stranger, whom Theodorus and Theaetetus bring with them. The younger Socrates, who is a silent auditor.
THEODORUS: Here we are, Socrates, true to our agreement of yesterday; and we bring with us a stranger from Elea, who is a disciple of Parmenides and Zeno, and a true philosopher.
SOCRATES: Is he not rather a god, Theodorus, who comes to us in the disguise of a stranger? For Homer says that all the gods, and especially the god of strangers, are companions of the meek and just, and visit the good and evil among men. And may not your companion be one of those higher powers, a cross-examining deity, who has come to spy out our weakness in argument, and to cross-examine us?
THEODORUS: Nay, Socrates, he is not one of the disputatious sort—he is too good for that. And, in my opinion, he is not a god at all; but divine he certainly is, for this is a title which I should give to all philosophers.
Contents
- 01Introduction and Analysis.
- 02Sophist
About this edition
- Author
- Plato
- Translator
- Benjamin Jowett
- Era
- Ancient (to c. 500)
- Reading level
- Advanced: for close, demanding reading
- Formats
- EPUB, PDF
- Length
- 88 pages
- This edition
- Modern Philosophers