Plato's Theaetetus

By Platon

Perception, memory, truth, and knowledge all play major roles in this dialogue. What is remarkable about Plato's treatment of those ideas is how contemporary are both the questions and the answers he puts in the mouths of his characters. Socrates is adamant in asserting that he does not know the answers but that his function is simply to help formulate and critically examine the doctrines presented by others. While he was still alive, the great sophist Protagoras was a friend of Theodorus who has subsequently given up abstract philosophical inquiry and now teaches mathematics, astronomy, and logic to young people such as Theaetetus, the most gifted student he has ever encountered. Socrates examines young Theaetetus to determine whether or not what he has learned from Theodorus provides wisdom and truth. The analogies and metaphors that emerge during their conversation foreshadow the theories of mind favored by contemporary cognitive scientists, but Plato's dialogue also raises serious doubts about the cogency of those explanations. -

• Language: English
• Publisher: SAGA Egmont
• Release date: Jul 30, 2020
• ISBN: 9788726627619

Platon

Platon wird 428 v. Chr. in Athen geboren. Als Sohn einer Aristokratenfamilie erhält er eine umfangreiche Ausbildung und wird im Alter von 20 Jahren Schüler des Sokrates. Nach dessen Tod beschließt Platon, sich der Politik vollständig fernzuhalten und begibt sich auf Reisen. Im Alter von ungefähr 40 Jahren gründet er zurück in Athen die berühmte Akademie. In den folgenden Jahren entstehen die bedeutenden Dialoge, wie auch die Konzeption des „Philosophenherrschers“ in Der Staat. Die Philosophie verdankt Platon ihren anhaltenden Ruhm als jene Form des Denkens und des methodischen Fragens, dem es in der Theorie um die Erkenntnis des Wahren und in der Praxis um die Bestimmung des Guten geht, d.h. um die Anleitung zum richtigen und ethisch begründeten Handeln. Ziel ist immer, auf dem Weg der rationalen Argumentation zu gesichertem Wissen zu gelangen, das unabhängig von Vorkenntnissen jedem zugänglich wird, der sich auf die Methode des sokratischen Fragens einläßt.Nach weiteren Reisen und dem fehlgeschlagenen Versuch, seine staatstheoretischen Überlegungen zusammen mit dem Tyrannen von Syrakus zu verwirklichen, kehrt Platon entgültig nach Athen zurück, wo er im Alter von 80 Jahren stirbt.

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Platon

Plato’s Theaetetus

Albert A. Anderson

SAGA Egmont

Plato’s Theaetetus

Θεαίτητος

Copyright © 5th-4th century BC, 2020 Plato and SAGA Egmont

All rights reserved

ISBN: 9788726627619

1. e-book edition, 2020

Format: EPUB 2.0

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Plato’s Theaetetus

Characters

Eucleides

Terpsion

Socrates

Theodorus

Theaetetus

[142] Eucleides: Have you just come from the country, Terpsion, or have you been here for a while?

Terpsion: I came some time ago. I have been looking for you in the Agora and wondering why I could not find you.

Eucleides: The reason is that I was not in the city.

Terpsion: Then where were you?

Eucleides: I was on my way to the harbor when I encountered Theaetetus who was being carried to Athens from the military camp at Corinth.

Terpsion: Is he alive or dead?

Eucleides: He is alive, but not much more than that. In addition to being severely wounded, he is suffering from an illness that has infected the troops.

Terpsion: Dysentery?

Eucleides: Yes.

Terpsion: That’s a grave threat to a fine man!

Eucleides: Yes, he is noble and good, Terpsion. I heard several people praising him for his courage in that battle.

Terpsion: That doesn’t surprise me. It would be much more remarkable if he had not distinguished himself. But why didn’t he stay here in Megara?

Eucleides: He was eager to get home. I urged him to stay, but he wouldn’t hear of it. So, I saw him off, and on my way back I remembered what Socrates said about him and marveled at how accurate his prophecy was. Socrates met him shortly before his own death when Theaetetus was still quite young, but when I went to Athens Socrates talked about his remarkable gifts and predicted that he would become great if he lived long enough.

Terpsion: That prediction has come true. What did they say to each other? Can you remember the details?

[143] Eucleides: Not off the top of my head, but I wrote down what I could remember when I returned home. Later I added more details as they came to mind, and whenever I went to Athens I would ask Socrates to help fill in the blanks and make corrections. By now I have recorded most of the conversation.

Terpsion: Of course! I heard you say that before, and I have been waiting a long time to ask you to show it to me. Why not read it now? I have just come from the country, so I could use a rest.

Eucleides: I went with Theaetetus as far as Erineum, so I wouldn’t mind a rest myself. Let’s go, and while we are resting my servant can read it to us.

Terpsion: That’s a good idea.

Eucleides: Here is the book, Terpsion. Notice how I wrote the conversation. I did not present Socrates as narrating it but as a dialogue with Theaetetus and Theodorus, the mathematician from Cyrene. I have left out interjections such as I said and I remarked, and he agreed or he disagreed, which Socrates used when he talked to me. Those phrases will only get in the way.

Terpsion: You are right about that, Eucleides.

Eucleides: All right, boy, you can read the book.

Socrates: If Cyrene were my primary concern, Theodorus, I would ask you about its affairs and whether any of the young people there are devoted to geometry or any other aspect of philosophy. But I am more interested in our own young people, so I would like to know who is likely to excel. I investigate these subjects as far as I can, so I am always eager to examine those around whom these young people gather. Many of them rightly come to you, and not only because you have mastered geometry. So, I would like to know whether you have encountered anyone who has promise.

Theodorus: Yes, Socrates, I have met a remarkable young man, one of your fellow citizens, who is definitely worth your attention. If he were handsome, I would hesitate to single him out, because someone might think I am in love with him. Please don’t be offended, but he is not handsome—he is very much like you, though less extreme, with a snub nose and protruding eyes.

[144] I speak without reservation when I say that of all the young people I have met—and I have known many—I have never found anyone who can equal him in natural gifts. He learns more quickly than any of the others, and he is both brave and gentle. I wouldn’t have expected to see such a combination of qualities, because it is so rare. People who have such quick and clever minds and good memories often have short tempers, are easily distracted, and lack balance like unstable ships. They are impulsive rather than courageous. On the other hand, those who are more stable tend to be slow to learn and are hindered by a bad memory. However, this one approaches learning and inquiry without stumbling—smoothly, deliberately, successfully, and gently, the way a stream of oil flows without making a sound. It is amazing to see what he accomplishes at his age.

Socrates: That’s good news. Who is his father?

Theodorus: I have heard the name, but I can’t remember it. However, the young man himself is in the middle of that group coming toward us. They have been outside oiling their skin for exercising. Evidently they have finished, so you can see if you recognize him.

Socrates: I do, but I don’t know his name. He is the son of Euphronius of Sunium, who was well known, and he was exactly the kind of man you describe his son as being. I think he also left a sizeable estate.

Theodorus: His name is Theaetetus. As for the estate, I understand that the trustees devoured most of it, but in spite of that he is quite generous with his money.

Socrates: You are describing a fine young man. I wish you would invite him to join us.

Theodorus: I will. Theaetetus, come over here and sit next to Socrates.

Socrates: Yes, do come closer so I can see what my face looks like. Theodorus says that you and I look alike. But if we were both holding a lyre and Theodorus said they are tuned the same way, should we take his word for it or try to find out whether he knows anything about music?

Theaetetus: We should try to find out.

Socrates: And if we discover that he is a musician, we should believe him; but otherwise we should not trust his judgment.

Theaetetus: True.

Socrates: If we are interested in the resemblance between our faces, should we determine whether he is a visual artist?

Theaetetus: Yes, Socrates, we should do that.

Socrates: Is Theodorus skilled in painting? [145]

Theaetetus: Not as far as I know.

Socrates: Nor is he skilled in geometry.

Theaetetus: On the contrary, he is definitely skilled in geometry!

Socrates: And he is also an astronomer, a logician, and a musician—a fully educated person.

Theaetetus: I think so.

Socrates: So, if he points out a similarity in our physical appearance, whether to praise or ridicule us, there is no special reason to pay attention to him.

Theaetetus: I guess not.

Socrates: But what if he praises one of us for the goodness and wisdom of our soul? Would it be worthwhile for someone who hears that to examine the one who is praised and for the one who is praised to exhibit those qualities?

Theaetetus: It certainly would, Socrates.

Socrates: My dear Theaetetus, now is the time for you to exhibit and for me to examine those qualities in you, because even though I have heard Theodorus praise many citizens and foreigners, he has never praised anyone the way he just praised you.

Theaetetus: That’s good to hear, but are you sure he wasn’t joking?

Socrates: It is not like Theodorus to make jokes. Don’t withdraw your agreement by pretending that he is joking, or he will have to testify under oath; and he will never be convicted of lying. Have the courage to maintain your agreement.

Theaetetus: All right, if you insist.

Socrates: Tell me this: Have you learned some geometry from Theodorus? Theaetetus: Yes.

Socrates: And are you also learning astronomy, music, and logical reasoning?

Theaetetus: I’m doing the best I can.

Socrates: And so am I, young man. I try to learn from him and from anyone else who knows about such things. Although I generally do fairly well, there is one small matter that I would like you and the others to help me investigate. Tell me, don’t we grow wiser when we learn something?

Theaetetus: Definitely.

Socrates: And I suppose that it is wisdom that makes us wise.

Theaetetus: Yes.