Ideas from 'The Sophist' by Plato [358 BCE], by Theme Structure

[found in 'Complete Works' by Plato (ed/tr Cooper,John M.) [Hackett 1997,0-87220-349-2]].

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1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 2. Invocation to Philosophy

1642	We must fight fiercely for knowledge, understanding and intelligence

1. Philosophy / F. Analytic Philosophy / 7. Limitations of Analysis

1645	The desire to split everything into its parts is unpleasant and unphilosophical

2. Reason / C. Styles of Reason / 1. Dialectic

1644	Dialectic should only be taught to those who already philosophise well

2. Reason / C. Styles of Reason / 2. Elenchus

20478

In discussion a person's opinions are shown to be in conflict, leading to calm self-criticism

7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 3. Being / a. Nature of Being

24280

Changing things and change itself are part of being, since it has life and mind

7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 3. Being / d. Non-being

11278

What does 'that which is not' refer to?

7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 3. Being / e. Being and nothing

1643	If statements about non-existence are logically puzzling, so are statements about existence

7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 6. Criterion for Existence

7022	To be is to have a capacity, to act on other things, or to receive actions

7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 6. Physicalism

1641	Some alarming thinkers think that only things which you can touch exist

7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 11. Ontological Commitment / a. Ontological commitment

10784

Whenever there's speech it has to be about something

7. Existence / E. Categories / 2. Categorisation

24281

We divide things into kinds by expert dialectic

8. Modes of Existence / D. Universals / 6. Platonic Forms / a. Platonic Forms

16122

Good thinkers spot forms spread through things, or included within some larger form

10422

The not-beautiful is part of the beautiful, though opposed to it, and is just as real

9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 6. Nihilism about Objects

15855

If we see everything as separate, we can then give no account of it

12. Knowledge Sources / C. Rationalism / 1. Rationalism

1637	A soul without understanding is ugly

23. Ethics / A. Egoism / 1. Ethical Egoism

1636	Wickedness is an illness of the soul

25. Social Practice / E. Policies / 5. Education / c. Teaching

1638	Didactic education is hard work and achieves little