The Sophist

The Sophist, written by Plato in 360 B.C.E. attempts to search for definitions through deep philosophical searching. The persons of dialogue in this piece are Theodorus, Theaetetus, Socrates (who mainly serves as a silent authority), and an Eleatic Stranger, who leads the majority of the dialogue. As the dialogue commences, Socrates asks the stranger what is thought of sophists, statesman, and philosophers in his home country of Italy. However, Socrates does not simply ask the Stranger to define the three, he instead asks him how the three types of men are regarded in his country- under one, two, or three names. As the men (Theaeteteus and the Stranger) debate the likes of the “angler” and the “sophist” they find that the definition of the latter divides into different forms and thus eludes them. The trouble within the dialogue becomes: how does one define the sophist at all if neither men can define or characterize the group to which he belongs?

Plato begins his dialogue with an investigation into the topic of sophists with a character dialogue and debate that leads to the institution of “dichotomous division”. When asked to define the nature of each man (sophist, statesman, and philosopher), the Stranger replies, “I am far from objecting, Theodorus, nor have I any difficulty in replying that by us they are regarded as three. But to define precisely the nature of each of them is by no means a slight or easy task” (The Sophist, Plato). The Stranger’s remarks lead the reader to believe that the men in question may agree simply on the name “sophist” and, for the present, apply the name with completely different conditions. Having considered the strangers remarks, the dialogue leads into an attempt to understand “the thing...

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...ase of the angler. Although the sophist is obviously the more capable of men, Plato does not flat out address it as so. He instead, leaves it up to the Stranger and Theaetetus, and his readers, to decipher the underlying message of the two. My only criticism of Plato’s style is that he places the respondents of a particular question (typically Theaetetus) in a very passive and accepting role. Theaetetus simply accepts the Stranger’s arguments and very rarely replies in an inquisitive or competitive nature. He accepts the Stranger’s theories as fact and hardly ever raises tough objections or recommends any proposals of his own. Plato’s, The Sophist, attempts to challenge philosophical thinkers as well as everyday people to think with reason. Instead of relying on basic assumptions, he asks them to defy conventional wisdom and think abstractly and with purpose.