Sophist and Statesman: Two Dialogues (Dover Thrift Editions) by Plato Paperback Book

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Rent Sophist and Statesman: Two Dialogues (Dover Thrift Editions)

Author: Plato

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Publisher: Dover Publications

Published: Dec 1969

Genre: Philosophy - History & Surveys - Ancient & Classical

Retail Price: $5.00

Pages: 128

Synopsis

These two dialogues by the greatest of the ancient Greek philosophers explore a vital concern of a democratic society: how to define the special abilities and qualities that make a genuine statesman. They further examine the distinction between an authentic statesman and the sophist, an individual who pretends to be a statesman but lacks the essential knowledge, personal qualities, and philosophical outlook.
Written after Parmenides — in which the philosopher condemned his own theory of separate, immaterial forms — Sophist and Statesman are of special interest in terms of their reflection of Plato's conceptions of method and metaphysics. In addition, Statesman provides a transitional view of the author's political philosophy in the period between the Republic and the Laws. Together, the dialogues illuminate Plato's growing preoccupation with practical knowledge, offering a more informal and pragmatic approach than his earlier works. This edition features the acclaimed translations by Benjamin Jowett.

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