The Midwife of Platonism: Text and Subtext in Plato's Theaetetus

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David Sedley (, Laurence Professor of Ancient Philosophy, University of Cambridge)

The Midwife of Platonism

Text and Subtext in Plato's Theaetetus

David Sedley (, Laurence Professor of Ancient Philosophy, University of Cambridge)

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English

Oxford University Press
01 July 2004

Western philosophy: Ancient, to c 500; Philosophy: epistemology & theory of knowledge

Plato's Theaetetus is an acknowledged masterpiece, and among the most influential texts in the history of epistemology. Since antiquity it has been debated whether this dialogue was written by Plato to support his familiar metaphysical doctrines, or represents a self-distancing from these. David Sedley's book offers a via media, founded on a radical separation of the author, Plato, from his main speaker, Socrates. The dialogue, it is argued, is addressed to readers familiar with Plato's mature doctrines, and sets out to show how these doctrines, far from being an abandonment of his Socratic heritage, are its natural outcome. The Socrates portrayed here is the same Socrates as already portrayed in Plato's early dialogues. While not a Platonist, he is exhibited - to put it in terms of an image made famous by this dialogue - as having been Platonism's midwife. In a comprehensive rereading of the text, Sedley tracks the ways in which Socrates is shown unwittingly preparing the ground for Plato's mature doctrines, and reinterprets the dialogue's individual arguments from this perspective. The book is addressed to all readers interested in Plato, and does not require knowledge of Greek.

By: David Sedley ( Laurence Professor of Ancient Philosophy University of Cambridge)
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 224mm, Width: 145mm, Spine: 18mm
Weight: 364g
ISBN: 9780199267033
ISBN 10: 0199267030
Pages: 212
Publication Date: 01 July 2004
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , A / AS level , Further / Higher Education
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

1: Opening moves 2: 'Knowledge is perception' 3: Relativism 4: Perception 5: Falsity puzzles 6: Accounts Bibliography Index locorum General index

Reviews for The Midwife of Platonism: Text and Subtext in Plato's Theaetetus

elegant and engaging, a refreshing reconsideration of the relation of Plato to Socrates... The Midwife of Platonism is an enjoyable book to read, which I recommend to anyone with an interest in the Theaetetus and in the perennial question of Socrates. This slim volume, written in a modest and accessible style, aims in its own quiet way to overturn an influential thesis about Platos development. Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews David Sedley is one of my favourite philosophical authors. Everything he writes is fresh, bold, interesting, provocative, sensitive, sympathetic, and a delight to read. he often makes interesting use of his considerable knowledge of the middle platonists. Gail Fine, The Philosophical Quarterly