Ancient Greek Reading Group: Plato’s Theaetetus and Sophist

Plato’s dialogues the Theaetetus and the Sophist pose a  series of questions about the nature of thought itself, such as the process of to dianoeisthai (“thinking”) as a silent inner dialogue and the pre-Stoic definition of phantasia as mere perception, regardless of its connection to reality. In the Theaetetus, Socrates expresses the concern that aesthesis (“sense perception”) cannot grasp either truth or being, while our thoughts and perceptions must relate to what-is. In the Sophist, Plato establishes the possibility of false statements, precisely so that a sophist could be convicted of making one. Phantasia is defined as a combination of aesthesis and opinion and is placed in the same category as judgements and statements, rendering it capable of both truth and falsity and subject to semantic and logical analysis.

In this course, we will read passages from the Theaetetus and the Sophist, with the intention of tracing the evolution of ideas about perception, thought, and truth. What were the philosophical discourses that led to the idea that perception must apprehend what actually exists? What are the logical implications of these early epistemological constructs?

Course Schedule

$335.00

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