The Secret Doctrine and the Gigantomachia: Interpreting Plato’s Theaetetus-Sophist

Authors

  • Brad Berman Portland State University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14195/2183-4105_14_4

Keywords:

Plato, Theaetetus, Sophist, secret doctrine, battle of gods and giants, dunamis, kinêsis

Abstract

The Theaetetus’ ‘secret doctrine’ and the Sophist’s ‘battle between gods and giants’ have long fascinated Plato scholars. I show that the passages systematically parallel one another. Each presents two substantive positions that are advanced on behalf of two separate parties, related to one another by their comparative sophistication or refinement. Further, those parties and their respective positions are characterized in substantially similar terms. On the basis of these sustained parallels, I argue that the two passages should be read together, with each informing and constraining an interpretation of the other.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

Brad Berman, Portland State University

Assistant Professor

Department of Philosophy

Downloads

Published

2015-07-22

How to Cite

Berman, B. (2015). The Secret Doctrine and the Gigantomachia: Interpreting Plato’s Theaetetus-Sophist. PLATO JOURNAL, 14, 53-62. https://doi.org/10.14195/2183-4105_14_4