Plato : Sophist: The Professor of Wisdom (Focus Philosophical Library) [Paperback]

Plato (Author), Eva Brann (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1996

This is an English translation of Plato presenting a new conception of the Theory of Forms. Socrates and others discuss the epistemological and metaphysical puzzles of the Parmenides, with aims to define the meaning of the Sophist. The glossary of key terms is a unique addition to Platonic literature by which concepts central to each dialogue are discussed and cross-referenced as to their occurrences throughout the work. In such a way students are encouraged to see beyond the words into concepts.

Focus Philosophical Library translations are close to and are non-interpretative of the original text, with the notes and a glossary intending to provide the reader with some sense of the terms and the concepts as they were understood by Plato’s immediate audience.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This is one of the best translations of a Platonic dialogue I have seen in any language.

-- Stanley Rosen, Boston University

From the Back Cover

English translation. Introduction and glossary. The glossary of key terms is a unique addition to Platonic literature by which concepts central to each dialogue are discussed and cross-referenced as to their occurrences throughout the work. In such a way students are encouraged to see beyond the words into concepts.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 104 pages
• Publisher: Focus Publishing/R. Pullins Co. (June 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 094105151X
• ISBN-13: 978-0941051514
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #145,460 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good translation, November 14, 2000

By 

"winterpalace987" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plato : Sophist: The Professor of Wisdom (Focus Philosophical Library) (Paperback)

This is a very good translation for people reading the Sophist for the first time. The language is accessible (as much as it can be considering that this is one of the most difficult dialogues). Other translations of the dialogue are either written in archaic English or have other purposes. Benardete's is excellent, but it is for studying, not reading.

The introduction also gives a very nice outline of the dialogue.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Battle of Gods and Giants, September 24, 2009

By 

Mr. Steiner (New York) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Plato : Sophist: The Professor of Wisdom (Focus Philosophical Library) (Paperback)

For many, this dialogue represents the culmination of Platonic thought. Theatetus and the Eleatic stranger announce a program of determination of the function and essence of the Sophist. They proceed by way of dialectical bifurcation; in a way this text is about the process of bifurcation itself. We are left with little to think about the Sophist in positive terms. Rather, we are left with the essence of sophistry as a kind of semblance-the sophist creates the impression of true knowledge. However, at the heart of this text is a metaphysical questioning of the meaning of being itself: "Then clarify this for us, since we're confused by it. What do you want to signify when you say being? Obviously you've known for a long time. We thought we did, but now we're confused about it." This brief problematic would of course find itself as the opening quotation of Heidegger's Being and Time. The Sophist remains one of the most crucial and mysterious of all metaphysical texts.

4.0 out of 5 stars Plato's The Sophist, August 25, 2009

By 

Takov Peter - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Plato : Sophist: The Professor of Wisdom (Focus Philosophical Library) (Paperback)

Recommended for anyone who wants to study philosophy. The introduction is just wonderful.It facilitates the undertanding of the text. It is worth buying,