Sophist

TheSophistis aPlatonic dialoguefrom the philosopher's late period, most likely written in 360 BC. Its main theme is to identify what asophistis and how a sophist differs from aphilosopherandstatesman. Because each seems distinguished by a particular form of knowledge, the dialogue continues some of the lines of inquiry pursued in theepistemologicaldialogue,Theaetetus, which is said to have taken place the day before. Because theSophisttreats these matters, it is often taken to shed light onPlato'sTheory of Formsand is compared with theParmenides, which criticized what is often taken to be the theory of forms.