Sophist (Hackett Classics)

By Plato

Book Overview

This is an English translation of Plato presenting a new conception of the Theory of Forms. Socrates and others discuss the epistemological and metaphysical puzzles of the Parmenides, with aims to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 087220202X
• ISBN13: 9780872202023
• Release Date: October 1993
• Publisher: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc.
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.3" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Calling All Straussians ,

Benardete has either absorbed so much of the Platonic rhetorical structure that he has truly seduced Socrattic irony into an intelligible light , or is lost amongst the labyrinthine ways of post straussian scholars. Nobody, undergrad, or grad, knows for sure.

I disagree

I think the previous reviewer owes me a 'treat'-I have read this a few times, having spent the past few months working on the Sophist, as well as the Theaetetus. I quite agree that it is not the most accessible of Plato's dialogues, but I disagree with the view that it is not worth our trouble. Plato's work on logos in the closing sections of the dialogue, as well as his work on the probems of not-being are amongst the greatest pieces of analysis in the history of philosophy, in my opinion. Perhaps, though, if we are to gain a full appreciation of what Plato is doing here, a look at the problems as raised by Parmenides is necessary first.

Sophists broken down without the sophistry

This translation is excellent. Bernadette's insightful commentary is a real help to those just starting the plunge into Platonic thought, as well as providing a new and fresh analysis for those veterans of the dialogue. The word choice of the translator really complements an in-depth reading of arguably the most solidifying distinction between Platonic thought and the supposed errors of the Sophists.