Plato's Analysis of Being and Not‐being in the Sophist

Bibliographic Data

ID23144402
AuthorsWilliam J Prior, W Prior (University of Colorado System, corresponding author)
Year1980
Volume18
Issue2
Pages199-211
Publication date1980-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Southern Journal of Philosophy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0038-4283 • E-ISSN: 2041-6962
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.2041-6962.1980.tb01378.x
OpenAlexW2051342576
LanguageEN
Citations received9

In this paper I offer an account of Plato's analysis of Being and Not-Being in the Sophist. This account differs from those current in several important respects. First, although I take it that Plato distinguishes in the Sophist among existential statements, statements that are predicative in grammatical structure, and statements of identity, I do not believe that he distinguishes corresponding senses or uses of the verb "to be." Second, I do not take Plato's analysis to be linguistic or logical in nature, but rather metaphysical or ontological. In my view, the Greek verb "esti" is analyzed in terms of a metaphysical theory, the Theory of Forms, and specifically in terms of the metaphysical concept of participation. This indicates a third difference between my view and that of commentors who believe that Plato's late dialogues show a trend away from transcendent metaphysics and toward a more neutral sort of conceptual analysis. As I shall hold that the genuine conceptual breakthrough of the Sophist is made with the metaphysical apparatus not much changed from the Phaedo, I dent that this passage, at least, can be taken as evidence for such a trend. The passage in which Plato makes his analysis is Soph. 251a-257c. I shall examine briefly the entire passage, but concentrate on 255e-256e, from which I draw the bulk of the material for my account.

Phronesis · Sophist · Theology · Classical Philosophy and Thought · Classics · History · Philosophy

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