Sophist
The Sophist is one of Plato's later dialogues, a sequel to the Theaetetus in which an unnamed visitor from Elea, with the young Theaetetus as respondent, sets out to define what a sophist is. The hunt for a definition, pursued through the method of division, leads into the hardest territory in Plato: how false statement is possible, what not-being can mean, and how the great kinds of being, rest, motion, sameness and difference combine. Along the way the dialogue criticizes the materialists, the friends of the Forms and Parmenides himself. Benjamin Jowett's translation is preceded by his long introduction and analysis, which relates the dialogue to Hegel and to the history of logic. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the opening pages are free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about Sophist
Sophist by Plato can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read Sophist online?
Yes. Sophist opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is Sophist free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Sophist is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is Sophist in the public domain?
Yes. Sophist by Plato is a public-domain work, here in the translation by Benjamin Jowett. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read Sophist?
About 3 h 01 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is Sophist?
Sophist by Plato is filed under "Philosophy" in the Vinteuil library.
