Theaetetus

Name: Theaetetus
Author: Plato

By Plato

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About This Book

The dialogue stages a systematic inquiry into the nature of human knowledge, opening with debates over whether knowledge reduces to perceptual experience and testing the consequences of perceptual relativism. The discussants then consider knowledge as true belief and subsequently as true belief accompanied by an account, probing what additional element would secure epistemic status. Mathematical examples and skeptical puzzles are deployed to expose problems about false judgment, the objectivity of definitions, and the demands of explanation. The interrogation proceeds by careful questioning and refutation, and it concludes inconclusively, underscoring the persistent conceptual difficulties in formulating a satisfactory theory of knowledge.

About the Author

Plato

Plato was an ancient Greek philosopher, a student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, whose works have profoundly influenced Western philosophy. He is best known for his dialogues, which explore various philosophical themes including ethics, politics, and metaphysics. Among his most notable works is the "Apology," which presents Socrates' defense during his trial. Plato founded the Academy in Athens, one of the earliest institutions of higher learning in the Western world. His writings, characterized by their dialectical method and exploration of ideal forms, continue to be studied for their insights into human thought and society.