References to Plato’s Theaetetus in book Γ (IV) of Aristotle’s Metaphysics
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Zbigniew Nerczuk
Abstract
The so called “Secret Doctrine”, presented by Plato in Theaetetus and attributed to Protagoras and disciples of Heraclitus, is one of the main sources of the critical and skeptical ideas in ancient philosophy. Its main contentions (phenomenalism, subjectivism, the view of relativity and indeterminacy of things, method of antilogic etc.) were acknowledged by Pyrrho and, revived by Aenesidemus, can be found incorporated into the skeptical tradition in the works of Sextus Empiricus. This is the reason why the reconstruction of the reception of Plato’s Theaetetus is of an outmost importance for our understanding of the development of ancient skepticism. The paper points out the references to the “Secret Doctrine” (Plato’s Theaetetus) in book Γ (IV) of Aristotle’s Metaphysics. Based on the references contained in this book, it can be concluded that the Stagirite, opposing those who accept the possibility of contradictory judgments, abundantly presents the position of the “upholders of flux” contained in the dialogue and repeatedly recalls the arguments from the discussion conducted in Theaetetus. The interpretation of these references to Theaetetus gives an opportunity not only to better understand Aristotle’s criticism in book Γ (IV) of Aristotle’s Metaphysics, but also to give an insight into the sources of later skepticism.
Abstract
The so called “Secret Doctrine”, presented by Plato in Theaetetus and attributed to Protagoras and disciples of Heraclitus, is one of the main sources of the critical and skeptical ideas in ancient philosophy. Its main contentions (phenomenalism, subjectivism, the view of relativity and indeterminacy of things, method of antilogic etc.) were acknowledged by Pyrrho and, revived by Aenesidemus, can be found incorporated into the skeptical tradition in the works of Sextus Empiricus. This is the reason why the reconstruction of the reception of Plato’s Theaetetus is of an outmost importance for our understanding of the development of ancient skepticism. The paper points out the references to the “Secret Doctrine” (Plato’s Theaetetus) in book Γ (IV) of Aristotle’s Metaphysics. Based on the references contained in this book, it can be concluded that the Stagirite, opposing those who accept the possibility of contradictory judgments, abundantly presents the position of the “upholders of flux” contained in the dialogue and repeatedly recalls the arguments from the discussion conducted in Theaetetus. The interpretation of these references to Theaetetus gives an opportunity not only to better understand Aristotle’s criticism in book Γ (IV) of Aristotle’s Metaphysics, but also to give an insight into the sources of later skepticism.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter i
- Table of Contents v
- Critical Thinking and Philosophical Criticism – an Outline of the Problem 1
- Criticism as Paradoxatism. The Heraclitean Critique of the Notion of Opinion 11
- Criticism as the Basis for the Procedures of Hypothetical Dialectic in Plato’s Philosophy 25
- Aspects of Criticism in Plato’s Philosophy 47
- References to Plato’s Theaetetus in book Γ (IV) of Aristotle’s Metaphysics 65
- Conversation and Conservation. Two Kinds of Anti-Dogmatic Criticism in the Philosophy of Politics and their Antecedents in Ancient Greek Forms of Skepticism and Fallibilism 73
- The Critical Dimension of Locke’s Epistemology 93
- The Old and New Critique of Pure Reason based on Immanuel Kant and Jakob Friedrich Fries 111
- Criticism as It Was Understood by Hermann Cohen 127
- Hermann Cohen’s Critical Exposition of Kant’s Critique of Taste 139
- Criticism and Rationality in the Lvov-Warsaw School 161
- Rationality and Criticism in the Views of the Philosophers of the Lvov-Warsaw School and K.R. Popper 173
- More than Words: from Language to Society. Wittgenstein, Marx, and Critical Theory 191
- Reflexive Social Critique. On the Dialectical Criticism of Ideology According to Marx and Adorno 213
- Skepticism and Atheism. Three Types of Relationships 237
- Criticism in Political Philosophy. On the Advantages of Pragmatism over Ideologized Politics in Light of the Works of Witold Gombrowicz 251
- Consolatio or Critical Methods? Reflections on Philosophical Counseling 265
- Plato’s Dialectics as a Method of Critical Reflection on Art 281
- Register 299
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter i
- Table of Contents v
- Critical Thinking and Philosophical Criticism – an Outline of the Problem 1
- Criticism as Paradoxatism. The Heraclitean Critique of the Notion of Opinion 11
- Criticism as the Basis for the Procedures of Hypothetical Dialectic in Plato’s Philosophy 25
- Aspects of Criticism in Plato’s Philosophy 47
- References to Plato’s Theaetetus in book Γ (IV) of Aristotle’s Metaphysics 65
- Conversation and Conservation. Two Kinds of Anti-Dogmatic Criticism in the Philosophy of Politics and their Antecedents in Ancient Greek Forms of Skepticism and Fallibilism 73
- The Critical Dimension of Locke’s Epistemology 93
- The Old and New Critique of Pure Reason based on Immanuel Kant and Jakob Friedrich Fries 111
- Criticism as It Was Understood by Hermann Cohen 127
- Hermann Cohen’s Critical Exposition of Kant’s Critique of Taste 139
- Criticism and Rationality in the Lvov-Warsaw School 161
- Rationality and Criticism in the Views of the Philosophers of the Lvov-Warsaw School and K.R. Popper 173
- More than Words: from Language to Society. Wittgenstein, Marx, and Critical Theory 191
- Reflexive Social Critique. On the Dialectical Criticism of Ideology According to Marx and Adorno 213
- Skepticism and Atheism. Three Types of Relationships 237
- Criticism in Political Philosophy. On the Advantages of Pragmatism over Ideologized Politics in Light of the Works of Witold Gombrowicz 251
- Consolatio or Critical Methods? Reflections on Philosophical Counseling 265
- Plato’s Dialectics as a Method of Critical Reflection on Art 281
- Register 299
