Socrates and the Sophists: Plato's Protagoras/Euthydemus/Hippias/Cratylus

by Plato, Joe Sachs (Translator)

This is an English translation of four of Plato’s dialogue (Protagoras, Euthydemus, Hippias Major, and Cratylus) that explores the topic of sophistry and philosophy, a key concept at the source of Western thought. Includes notes and an introductory essay.

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.

Genres: Philosophy

240 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2010

About the author

Plato (Greek: Πλάτων), born Aristocles (c. 427 – 348 BC), was an ancient Greek philosopher of the Classical period who is considered a foundational thinker in Western philosophy and an innovator of the written dialogue and dialectic forms. He raised problems for what became all the major areas of both theoretical philosophy and practical philosophy, and was the founder of the Platonic Academy, a philosophical school in Athens where Plato taught the doctrines that would later become known as Platonism.
Plato's most famous contribution is the theory of forms (or ideas), which has been interpreted as advancing a solution to what is now known as the problem of universals. He was decisively influenced by the pre-Socratic thinkers Pythagoras, Heraclitus, and Parmenides, although much of what is known about them is derived from Plato himself.
Along with his teacher Socrates, and Aristotle, his student, Plato is a central figure in the history of philosophy. Plato's entire body of work is believed to have survived intact for over 2,400 years—unlike that of nearly all of his contemporaries. Although their popularity has fluctuated, they have consistently been read and studied through the ages. Through Neoplatonism, he also greatly influenced both Christian and Islamic philosophy. In modern times, Alfred North Whitehead famously said: "the safest general characterization of the European philosophical tradition is that it consists of a series of footnotes to Plato."

Reviews

[Sherwood Belangia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another terrific translation by Sachs! Includes Protagoras, Euthydemus, Hippias Major and Cratylus. The introduction to this volume is tough but wonderfully insightful, particularly in explaining the importance of "eidetic numbers" for Plato.

[Kajia · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely brilliant translation series and introductory essay by Joe Sachs. Sachs’ translation allows Plato’s dialectic approach to come alive and helps guide readers away from the urge to pin Plato down to a theory so as to dismiss whatever doesn’t match one’s existing prejudices. These dialogues are an invitation to think and ask better questions.

[Will Spohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Technically I only read the Cratylus from this edition, because that's why I bought it, but I've read the others at some point so I'll count it. Sachs' translation seemed decent, though from the cursory glances at the Greek, he was not as literal as I would like (but that's a small point).

The Cratylus itself was very strange, and from a brisk read I obviously didn't gain much. Aside from all the etymologizing, it's odd that it is situated dramatically specifically (right?) after the Euthyphro. I'm not sure what that would mean, or what Socrates wants/learns from this conversation. In addition, the details at the end about Cratylus leaving for someplace and Hermogenes accompanying him...? The question of the dialogue, though, seems to be very important with regard to the Socratic turn: if Socratic philosophy is about an analysis of speeches, then what are in those speeches, and what basis in the truth do they really have? Or how does language relate to the truth? Who knows.