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Perception, Relativism, and Truth: Reflections on Plato's Theaetetus 152–160

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 April 2010

Mohan Matthen
Mohan Matthen
Affiliation:
The University of Alberta
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Extract

My purpose in this paper is to investigate the ontological structure of the theory that Plato ascribes to Protagoras in the Theaetetus (152–160). My interest is not just historical—what I wish to do is to explore the contemporary significance of Plato's Protagorean thesis, especially with regard to the theory of truth and the theory of perception. Even so, I shall attempt to say quite a lot about the text—I think that certain recent interpreters (especially M. F. Burnyeat [1982]) are on the wrong track with regard to Protagorean relativism, precisely due to their misjudging the relation of the Theaetetus doctrine to more recent philosophy.

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Type
Articles
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Dialogue: Canadian Philosophical Review / Revue canadienne de philosophie , Volume 24 , Issue 1 , Spring 1985 , pp. 33 - 58
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Philosophical Association 1985

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