Platono Teaiteto digresija šiandien, arba Sokrato laiškas nūdienos filosofams

Abstract

This paper discusses the relevance of ancient thought by briefly reviewing the historical reception vicissitudes of Plato’s dialogue Theaetetus, and by considering what dialogue’s themes and motifs seem pertinent to contemporary thinkers. As in earlier times, Socrates’ critique of relativism and subjectivism, the problems of the justification of knowledge, as well as the holistic conception of knowledge remain undoubtedly valuable in the dialogue. In recent decades, research on the pedagogical motives of dialogue has also increased. Finally, it seems that never before have the protagonist’s proud words about scholē – the free, quiet time of thinking, unaffected by political urgency and conjuncture, as an essential condition for philosophical activity and life – sounded so insightful. This is what I call “Socrates’ Letter to Contemporary Philosophers”.