Author Description
'what Exactly Is Knowledge?' The Theaetetus Is A Seminal Text In The Philosophy Of Knowledge, And Is Acknowledged As One Of Plato's Finest Works. Cast As A Conversation Between Socrates And A Clever But Modest Student, Theaetetus, It Explores One Of The Key Issues In Philosophy: What Is Knowledge? Though No Definite Answer Is Reached, The Discussion Is Penetrating And Wide-ranging, Covering The Claims Of Perception To Be Knowledge, The Theory That All Is In Motion, And The Perennially Tempting Idea That Knowledge And Truth Are Relative To Different Individuals Or States. The Inquirers Go On To Explore The Connection Between Knowledge And True Judgement, And The Famous Threefold Definition Of Knowledge As Justified True Belief. Packed With Subtle Arguments, The Dialogue Is Also A Work Of Literary Genius, With An Unforgettable Portrait Of Socrates As A Midwife Of Wisdom. This New Edition Uses The Acclaimed Translation By John Mcdowell. It Includes A Valuable Introduction That Locates The Work In Plato's Oeuvre, And Explains Some Of The Competing Interpretations Of Its Overall Meaning. The Notes Elucidate Plato's Arguments And Draw Connections Within The Work And With Other Philosophical Discussions. About The Series: For Over 100 Years Oxford World's Classics Has Made Available The Widest Range Of Literature From Around The Globe. Each Affordable Volume Reflects Oxford's Commitment To Scholarship, Providing The Most Accurate Text Plus A Wealth Of Other Valuable Features, Including Expert Introductions By Leading Authorities, Helpful Notes To Clarify The Text, Up-to-date Bibliographies For Further Study, And Much More.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
What is the nature and definition of knowledge? Plato, a foundational figure in Western philosophy, utilizes the Socratic method to investigate the epistemological boundaries of human understanding. Through a structured dialogue between Socrates and the mathematician Theaetetus, the text systematically evaluates various definitions of knowledge, ultimately testing the viability of knowledge as perception, true judgment, and justified true belief.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- An examination of Protagorean relativism and Heraclitean flux theory.
- A rigorous analysis of the distinction between perception and cognition.
- The formal introduction of the 'justified true belief' framework.
- Socratic dialectical methodology applied to abstract concepts.
Scope Limits
- The text does not provide a final, definitive resolution to the question of what constitutes knowledge.
- It does not cover later developments in formal logic or modern scientific epistemology.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and philosophers regard this dialogue as a primary text for understanding the origins of epistemology in the Western tradition. Readers frequently note the density of the dialectical arguments, which require careful attention to follow the progression of the logical refutations.
Page Count:
224
Publication Date:
2014-01-01
ISBN-10:
0191507857
ISBN-13:
9780191507854
Philosophy
Epistemology
Classical Philosophy
Dialogues