Plato’s Attempts at Defining Sophistry

Abstract

In the Sophist, Plato offers seven definitions of a sophist. In this paper I will consider the relationship between these definitions, and examine how the first six definitions contribute to the final definition, and how the final definition, in turn, incorporates elements of the first six. Through this examination, we can also have a better grasp of Plato’s method of division, and Plato’s aporetic approach to philosophy.

Keywords

Plato / sophist / definition / division / aporetic approach

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