Theaetetus by Plato (Penguin Classics)

Description

“Theaetetus” is a philosophical dialogue written by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato. It’s one of Plato’s dialogues that explores questions of epistemology, the nature of knowledge, and the definition of knowledge. The dialogue takes its name from the central character, Theaetetus, who is a young mathematician.

In the dialogue, Socrates engages in a conversation with Theaetetus and another character named Theodorus. They attempt to define what knowledge is and explore various definitions, including knowledge as perception, true judgment, and the ability to give an account. The dialogue delves into the challenges and complexities of defining knowledge and the criteria that differentiate knowledge from mere opinion.

“Theaetetus” is part of Plato’s corpus of works and is considered a fundamental text in the history of philosophy, particularly in the field of epistemology. It examines questions that continue to be relevant to discussions in philosophy even today.