Plato: Theaetetus (Focus Philosophical Library) [Paperback]

Plato (Author), Joe Sachs (Translator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 158510101X | ISBN-13: 978-1585101016 | Publication Date: March 2004

This is an English translation of Plato's dialogue concerning the nature of knowledge. In this dialogue, Socrates and Theaetetus discuss three definitions of knowledge: knowledge as nothing but perception, as true judgment and as true judgment with an account.

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

Sachs’s outstanding new translation of Plato’s Theaetetus is lucid, readable, and faithful to the original. More than that, it is a translation for the thoughtful reader. Through his striking translations of key terms, Sachs compels the reader to think more deeply about Plato’s intent. He shows that Plato’s return within the dialogue to the same word or to its cognates is no accident but signals a philosophical trope in Plato’s thought. The work’s introduction avoids presenting a stock summary of the topics covered or a rehearsal of the failed arguments. Instead, it makes the case for regarding the Theaetetus as Plato’s ‘missing’ work on The Philosopher. Through the ‘variety of attempts, errors, new beginnings, and false turns that the dialogue presents,’ Sachs argues, Socrates provokes his interlocutors and Plato’s readers to strive to cross the boundary between mere opinion and the kind of thinking that is philosophy.

-- Roslyn Weiss, Lehigh University

From the Back Cover

Translation close to the original text, providing notes and an introduction to the work designed to give the intelligent reader access to thought and thought processes of one of the seminal works in the Socratic tradition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 130 pages
• Publisher: Focus Publishing/R. Pullins Co. (March 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158510101X
• ISBN-13: 978-1585101016
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #818,696 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #21 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Philosophy > Epistemology
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Theaetetus Done Right, September 13, 2008

By 

Timothy Davis (Santa Fe, New Mexico; United States of America) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plato: Theaetetus (Focus Philosophical Library) (Paperback)

Plato's Theaetetus is a difficult and complex dialogue. "What is knowledge?", Socrates asks a Stranger, the rest is history. If you are looking for the Theaetetus you likely know it enough, but if not, I highly recommend it; it is short and readable despite the rigorous intensity Plato writes.

Translation: Joe Sachs does an admirable job with this translation. It is accurate (a great aid to reading it in Greek) but still readable. Plato comes through crystal clear and you can spend your time studying him instead of wading through translator paraphrase and bias.

Aesthetics: It's a pretty book. The text is laid well and is a good size; a little small, but that shouldn't be a big deal. The Stephanus numbers are in the margins which allows for easy reference and placemarking.

Durability: Fairly good. Focus Publishers bind their books well (not as well as Green Lion but well enough) so in general, if you treat the book right it endures. This book is small so if you're not careful, you will break the spine so watch out. Stiffening the covers (contact paper or Kapco library binding) is a great idea for all paperback books.

Price: For a translation of this caliber the price is very, very good, even if you choose to purchase it new. You will not (or should not) regret buying it.