Plato’s Sophist, written in the late 4th century BC, investigates the nature of being, not-being, and the distinction between true philosophy and sophistry. At the center is the Eleatic Stranger, who engages in dialectical discussion with Theaetetus and Socrates. The dialogue opens with Theodorus, Theaetetus, and the Stranger attempting to define the sophist. Using analogies such as an angler, the Stranger portrays sophists as hunters and traders of discourse, skilled in deception and manipulation. This exploration sets the stage for deeper inquiries into the relationship between knowledge, falsehood, and the elusive character of sophistry.
