The wisdom of a Platonic masterpiece: The Sophist (PHL 09)

  • Day and time: Wednesday 10:00 - 11:30
    Weekly
  • Length of course: 3 terms. Autumn (10 Weeks), Spring (10 Weeks), Summer (9 Weeks)
  • Number of places: 18
  • Start date: 08 October 2025
  • Description:

    We shall be reading together one of Plato's late masterpieces, "The Sophist", in the Cambridge University Press edition ("Theaetetus and Sophist", translated by Christopher Rowe). This dialogue between a philosopher (not Socrates, this time!) and another man considers the question: "What is knowledge?" What do we mean when we say we know something? In "The Sophist" Plato brings in his famous Theory of Forms to try to grasp what on earth "knowing" (something, anything) actually is. Obviously, we all suppose, at every moment of our lives, that we know all sorts of things. We take it for granted that we know what "knowing" is. But knowing - or thinking we know - is an odd kettle of fish, when you think about it. We shall begin by taking a close look at the important Pre-Socratic philosopher Parmenides, who greatly influenced Plato, in this work in particular.

  • Format: Seminar

  • Tutor: Chris Jones
  • I have read Plato for half a century now, and taught most of his dialogues at the U3AC over the last few years, and find my appreciation simply increases.


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