The Sophist and The Statesman by Plato

The Sophist and The Statesman by Plato is a pair of philosophical dialogues concerned with knowledge, definition, falsehood, and political expertise. In The Sophist, Plato investigates what a sophist is and examines the difficult problem of how false speech and false belief are possible. The dialogue also develops important ideas about being, non-being, appearance, and reality. In The Statesman, Plato turns to the nature of true political rule and the kind of knowledge required to govern well. The work distinguishes genuine statesmanship from imitation, rhetoric, and mere power. Together, the dialogues show Plato’s mature method of philosophical classification and analysis.