Theatetus

Synopsis

Set immediately prior to the trial and execution of socrates in 399 bc, theaetetus shows the great philosopher considering the nature of knowledge itself, in a debate with the geometrician theodorus and his young follower theaetetus. Their dialogue covers many questions, such as: is knowledge purely subjective, composed of the ever-changing flow of impressions we receive from the outside world? Is it better thought of as "true belief"? Or is it, as many modern philosophers argue, "justified true belief, " in which the belief is supported by argument or evidence?