Plato's "Sophist" Revisited (Trends in Classics - Supplementary Volumes Book 19)

This book consists of a selection of papers which throw new light on old problems in one of Plato's most difficult dialogues. The papers included fall into three broad categories: a) those dealing directly with the ostensible aim of the dialogue, the various definitions of a sophist from different perspectives (T. Robinson, F. Casadesús, J. Monserrat-P. Sandoval, A. Bernabé, M. Narcy and K. Dorter ; b) a number which tackle a specific question brought up in the dialogue, and that is, how Plato relates to Heraclitus and to Parmenides in the matter of his understanding of being and non-being (E. Hülsz, D. O'Brien, B. Bossi, P. Mesquita and N. Cordero) ; and c) those discussing various other broad issues brought to the fore in the dialogue, such as the 'greatest kinds', true and false statement, difference and mimesis (F. Fronterotta, J. de Garay, D. Ambuel and L. Palumbo).The variety of schools and backgrounds of the authors makes this book unique as a tool for the appreciation of the different approaches possible to well-known hermeneutical problems. Plato’s Sophist Revisited......Page 4 Preface......Page 6 Contents......Page 10 I. Defining Sophistry......Page 12 Thomas M. Robinson: Protagoras and the Definition of ‘Sophist’ in the Sophist......Page 14 Francesc Casadesús Bordoy: Why is it so Difficult to Catch a Sophist? Pl. Sph. 218d3 and 261a5......Page 26 Josep Monserrat Molas and Pablo Sandoval Villarroel: Plato’s Enquiry concerning the Sophist as a Way towards ‘Defining’ Philosophy......Page 40 1. Objective......Page 52 2. The beginning of the sixth definition......Page 53 3. καθαρμός......Page 55 4. A new division......Page 58 5. ἀνόητος......Page 59 6. Soul’s liberation......Page 61 7. ἀπαλλαγή......Page 62 9. A digression on money......Page 63 10. θαῦμα, φά(ντα)σμα......Page 64 11. Conclusion......Page 66 Michel Narcy: Remarks on the First Five Definitions of the Sophist (Soph. 221c – 235a)......Page 68 Remarks on these definitions......Page 72 The fourth and fifth definitions......Page 75 José Solana: Socrates and ‘Noble’ Sophistry (Sophist 226b –231c)......Page 82 a) The intrinsic value of the passage......Page 86 b) The passage in the context of the dialogue......Page 91 Kenneth Dorter: The Method of Division in the Sophist: Plato’s Second Deuteros Plous......Page 98 II. Parricide: Threat or Reality?......Page 112 Enrique Hülsz: Plato’s Ionian Muses: Sophist 242 d –e......Page 114 Denis O’Brien: Does Plato refute Parmenides?......Page 128 Additional Note: Gregory Vlastos on the ‘“Names” of Being in Parmenides’......Page 164 I. Setting the Common Frame......Page 168 II. The knowing mind’s commitment to reality: The Republic......Page 169 III. Every mind’s commitment to reality: the Sophist......Page 171 IV. The mind’s commitment to reality: an (apparent) objection......Page 173 V. The (apparent) objection requires the (apparent) parricide......Page 174 VI. On parts and wholes: Parmenides mistaken......Page 175 VIII. Movement as being......Page 176 VIII. Sliding from names to non-conventional meanings: kinds, forms, natures......Page 177 IX. Unqualified, unrestricted not-being and relative not-being......Page 178 X. The way of mortals and the sophist......Page 180 Conclusion......Page 182 Antonio Pedro Mesquita: Plato’s Eleaticism in the Sophist: The Doctrine of Non-Being......Page 186 Néstor-Luis Cordero: The relativization of “separation” (khorismos) in the Sophist......Page 198 III. Mimesis, Image and Logos......Page 214 Λόγος, true and false......Page 216 Theaetetus sits – Theaetetus flies......Page 223 Truth, logic and time......Page 230 Predication and ontology......Page 231 1. Introduction......Page 236 2. The Sophist in Proclus......Page 238 2.1. The Sophist in the Neo-Platonist curriculum......Page 239 2.2. The Sophist as an initiation to the Parmenides......Page 241 3.1. Senses of non-being......Page 243 3.2. Superiority of negation over affirmation......Page 246 3.3. Negation as a difference of sense......Page 249 3.4. Negation and senses of Difference......Page 251 David Ambuel: Difference in Kind: Observations on the Distinction of the Megista Gene......Page 258 Method of distinction......Page 263 “Rest” and “Motion” distinguished......Page 264 “Rest,” “Motion,” and “Being” distinguished......Page 265 “Same” and “other” distinguished from “rest” and “motion”......Page 266 “Being” distinguished from “same”......Page 268 “Other” distinguished from “being”......Page 270 Lidia Palumbo: Mimesis in the Sophist......Page 280 Bibliography......Page 290 Index Locorum......Page 302 Subject Index......Page 312 Plato’s Sophist Revisited 4 Preface 6 Contents 10 I. Defining Sophistry 12 Thomas M. Robinson: Protagoras and the Definition of ‘Sophist’ in the Sophist 14 Francesc Casadesús Bordoy: Why is it so Difficult to Catch a Sophist? Pl. Sph. 218d3 and 261a5 26 Josep Monserrat Molas and Pablo Sandoval Villarroel: Plato’s Enquiry concerning the Sophist as a Way towards ‘Defining’ Philosophy 40 Alberto Bernabé: The Sixth Definition (Sophist 226a– 231c): Transposition of Religious Language 52 1. Objective 52 2. The beginning of the sixth definition 53 3. καθαρμός 55 4. A new division 58 5. ἀνόητος 59 6. Soul’s liberation 61 7. ἀπαλλαγή 62 8. έμποδίους 63 9. A digression on money 63 10. θαῦμα, φά(ντα)σμα 64 11. Conclusion 66 Michel Narcy: Remarks on the First Five Definitions of the Sophist (Soph. 221c – 235a) 68 Remarks on these definitions 72 The fourth and fifth definitions 75 José Solana: Socrates and ‘Noble’ Sophistry (Sophist 226b –231c) 82 a) The intrinsic value of the passage 86 b) The passage in the context of the dialogue 91 Kenneth Dorter: The Method of Division in the Sophist: Plato’s Second Deuteros Plous 98 II. Parricide: Threat or Reality? 112 Enrique Hülsz: Plato’s Ionian Muses: Sophist 242 d –e 114 Denis O’Brien: Does Plato refute Parmenides? 128 Additional Note: Gregory Vlastos on the ‘“Names” of Being in Parmenides’ 164 Beatriz Bossi: Back to the Point: Plato and Parmenides – Genuine Parricide? 168 I. Setting the Common Frame 168 II. The knowing mind’s commitment to reality: The Republic 169 III. Every mind’s commitment to reality: the Sophist 171 IV. The mind’s commitment to reality: an (apparent) objection 173 V. The (apparent) objection requires the (apparent) parricide 174 VI. On parts and wholes: Parmenides mistaken 175 VII. Being pervades everything 176 VIII. Movement as being 176 VIII. Sliding from names to non-conventional meanings: kinds, forms, natures 177 IX. Unqualified, unrestricted not-being and relative not-being 178 X. The way of mortals and the sophist 180 Conclusion 182 Antonio Pedro Mesquita: Plato’s Eleaticism in the Sophist: The Doctrine of Non-Being 186 Néstor-Luis Cordero: The relativization of “separation” (khorismos) in the Sophist 198 III. Mimesis, Image and Logos 214 Francesco Fronterotta: Theaetetus sits – Theaetetus flies. Ontology, predication and truth in Plato’s Sophist (263a –d) 216 Λόγος, true and false 216 Theaetetus sits – Theaetetus flies 223 Truth, logic and time 230 Predication and ontology 231 Jesús de Garay: Difference and Negation: Plato’s Sophist in Proclus 236 1. Introduction 236 2. The Sophist in Proclus 238 2.1. The Sophist in the Neo-Platonist curriculum 239 2.2. The Sophist as an initiation to the Parmenides 241 3. Negation 243 3.1. Senses of non-being 243 3.2. Superiority of negation over affirmation 246 3.3. Negation as a difference of sense 249 3.4. Negation and senses of Difference 251 David Ambuel: Difference in Kind: Observations on the Distinction of the Megista Gene 258 Method of distinction 263 “Rest” and “Motion” distinguished 264 “Rest,” “Motion,” and “Being” distinguished 265 “Same” and “other” distinguished from “rest” and “motion” 266 “Being” distinguished from “same” 268 “Other” distinguished from “being” 270 Lidia Palumbo: Mimesis in the Sophist 280 Bibliography 290 Index Locorum 302 Subject Index 312 Main description: This book consists of a selection of papers which bring new light on the old problems of one of Plato's most difficult dialogues. The first range of papers deal with the definitions of sophistry from different perspectives (T. Robinson, F. Casadesús, J. Monserrat-P. Sandoval, A. Bernabé, M. Narcy and K. Dorter). In the central section E. Hülsz, D. O'Brien, B. Bossi, P. Mesquita and N. Cordero consider the problem of being and relative non-being with regard to Heraclitus and Father Parmenides' legacy. The final section is devoted to ontology, predication and truth by F. Fronterotta, J. de Garay, D. Ambuel and L. Palumbo This book consists of a selection of papers which throw new light on old problems in one of Plato's most difficult dialogues. The first set of papers deals with definitions of sophistry from different perspectives (T. Robinson, F. Casadesus, J. Monserrat, P. Sandoval, A. Bernabe, M. Narcy and K. Dorter). In the central section E. Hulsz, D. O'Brien, B. Bossi, P. Mesquita and N. Cordero consider the problem of being and relative non-being with regard to Heraclitus and the legacy of Parmenides. The final section with papers by F. Fronterotta, J. de Garay, D. Ambuel and L. Palumbo is devoted to ontology, predication and truth. This book consists of a selection of papers which throw new light on old problems in one of Plato's most difficult dialogues. The first set of papers deals with definitions of sophistry from different perspectives (T. Robinson, F. Casadesús, J. Monserrat-P. Sandoval, A. Bernabé, M. Narcy and K. Dorter). In the central section E. Hülsz, D. O'Brien, B. Bossi, P. Mesquita and N. Cordero consider the problem of being and relative non-being with regard to Heraclitus and the legacy of Parmenides. The final section with papers by F. Fronterotta, J. de Garay, D. Ambuel and L. Palumbo is devoted to ont