Knowledge in terms of Logos in Plato's Theaetetus

Thesis

This thesis concerns the definition “Knowledge is True Belief Accompanied by Logos”, as discussed in Plato’s Theaetetus (201c-210d). I aim to show that the discussion between Socrates and Theaetetus progresses coherently and that the aporetic ending of the dialogue should be read as a genuine impasse; neither Plato nor his character Socrates favours an interpretation of logos that may render the definition successful.

First, I argue that neither a propositional nor an objectual reading for knowledge in Socrates’ Dream (201d-202c) should be dismissed before we reach 206d-e.

Second, I argue in favour of the soundness of the argument at 202d-206c and suggest that this passage constitutes an amendment to Socrates’ Dream, not a refutation.

Third, I examine the first meaning for logos (“making one's thought plain by means of speech”, 206d-e) and argue that its rejection serves as a clarification that logoi of concern must in some way be special and that the content of the true belief is different from the content of the logos, although both concern the same object.

Fourth, I examine the second meaning for logos (“being able, when one is asked what anything is, to provide the questioner with an answer in terms of its elements”, 206e-208b). I argue that this is not a simple revisiting of Socrates’ Dream, but the amended and mereologically upgraded version Socrates argued for at 202d-206c.

Fifth, I examine the third meaning for logos (“being able to state some mark by which the thing one is asked for differs from everything else”, 208c-210b). I argue that no such mark can offer the precisification required to meet the strict demands Socrates has set for knowledge. Furthermore, I highlight the issue of the accompaniment of logos and bolster the view that the final argument refutes the definition, regardless of what meaning we attribute to logos.

Authors: Patramanis, D

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-br4dvp92r
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: knowledge; ancient philosophy; Theaetetus; Logos; Plato; epistemology
• Subjects: Philosophy; Whole and parts (Philosophy); Philosophy, Ancient; Logos (Philosophy); Knowledge, Theory of; Logical atomism