Plato:
Theaetetus
Commentary
by
Timothy Chappell
Synopsis of the whole dialogue
Part 1. (142a-146a)
Introduction
Part 2. Section 1. (146b-148e)
Statement and refutation of the first account of knowledge.
Part 2. Section 2. (148e1-151d7)
Socrates the midwife's apprentice.
Part 3. Synopsis.
First definition and consequent discussion; "Knowledge is perception".
Part 3. Section 1. (151d8-152e3)
Initial statement of the first definition and its implications.
Part 3. Section 2. (152e1-153d5)
Eight bad arguments for the Subjectivist consensus.
Part 3. Section 3. (153d6-155c7)
Three shocking implications of the subjectivist consensus.
Part 3. Section 4. (156a3-157c1)
The flux theory of perception.
Part 3. Section 5. (157c2-160d3)
First objection to the theory dismissed; the Dreamer.
Part 3. Section 6. (160e5-165d7)
Seven objections to Protagoras' view.
Part 3. Section 7. (166a1-168c6)
Protagoras' response to these objections.
Part 3. Section 8.(170a2-179b8)
Two conclusive objections to Protagoras' view.
Part 3. Section 9. (179c1-183b8)
Refutation of Heracleitus' view.
Part 3. Section 10. (184b3-187b1)
Final refutation of the first definition.
Part 4. (172c-177c)
The digression.
Part 5. Section 1. (187a1-e9)
Introduction of the second definition.
Part 5. Section 2 (187e5-188c8)
Proposal (a): false judgement as misidentification.
Part 5. Section 3 (188c9-189b8)
Proposal (b): false judgement as judging what is not.
Part 5. Section 4 (189b9-190e3)
Proposal (c) - Allodoxia: false judgement as inadvertent switching of objects.
Part 5. Section 5. (191a6-196c6)
Proposal (d) - the Wax Tablet: mismatching ideas and impressions.
Part 5. Section 6. (198c8-200c6)
Proposal (e) - the Aviary: latent and activated knowledge.
Part 5. Section 7.(200e3-201c7)
Final refutation of the second definition.
Part 6. Section 1. (201c7-d9)
Introduction of the third definition.
Part 6. Section 2. (201d9-206b9)
Discussion of the Dream Theory.
Part 6. Section 3.( 206d9-210a9)
Three attempts to understand logos.
Part 7.(210a9-d2)
Conclusion.