The Sophists in Plato's Dialogues by Corey, David D. -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Title Copyright Dedication Contents Acknowledgments Abbreviations 1. Introduction

Connection to Recent Scholarship The Literary-Philosophic Approach to Plato

2. Defining the Platonic Sophists

Sophists before the “Sophists” Plato’s Use of Sophistēs

Category 1 Category 2 Category 3

Gorgias and the Rhetoricians Socrates Plato’s Purposes

3. The “Great Speech” in Plato’s Protagoras

Socrates’ Challenge (319A–320C)

The Theoretical Challenge: Two Objections The Rhetorical Component: Caution toward Masses and Elites Competing Demands and a Semantic Opening

The Myth (320C8–322D5)

Moral Fable Semantic Modulations: From Competitive to Cooperative Virtue The Political Teaching: Protagoras’ Quarrel with Hesiod Metaballōn

Democratic Argument that Virtue Can be Taught (322d–324c)

The Hard Proof (Tekmērion) The People Believe Virtue Can Be Taught

Argument for Elite Parents (324d–328d) Conclusion: What the Great Speech Reveals

4. Prodicus: Diplomat, Sophist, and Teacher of Socrates

Deepening the Question: Three Intriguing Passages The Choice of Hercules Religious Theory The Art of Distinction-Making Weaknesses of Diairesis Conclusion

5. The Sophist Hippias and the Problem of Polytropia

Hippias Minor: Setting Forms of Polytropia in Socrates and Hippias Socratic Polytropia in Action

Hippias’ Polytropia in Action Pedagogical Significance of Socratic Polytropia Philosophic Significance of Socrates’ Fallacies Conclusion

6. Brother Sophists: Euthydemus and Dionysodorus

The Frame: Crito as “Lover of Hearing” Socrates’ Introduction to the Encounter Eristic Scene I Protreptic Scene I Eristic Scene II Protreptic Scene II Eristic Scene III Socrates’ Conclusion and the Closing Frame Clouds, Apology, and Conclusion

7. Protagorean Sophistry in Plato’s Theaetetus

Socrates Meets Theodorus and Theaetetus First Definition: Enumeration of Sciences and Arts The Midwife Analogy Second Definition: Knowledge Is Perception

Pig Is the Measure Knowing While Not Knowing Expertise

Digression: Philosophy and the Courts

Heraclitians and Parmenideans

The Dialogue’s Opening Frame The Role of Protagoras in the Search for Wisdom

8. Plato’s Critique of the Sophists?

Anytus Socrates and Adeimantus Socrates and Polus The Eleatic Stranger and Theaetetus Conclusion

Appendix: A Primer on Hesiod’s Myth of Prometheus Notes Bibliography Index Back Cover