Sophist and Statesman;Two Dialogues

These two dialogues explore a vital concern of a democratic society: how to define the special abilities and qualities that make a genuine statesman. They further examine the distinction between an authentic statesman and the sophist, an individual who pretends to be a statesman but lacks the essential knowledge, personal qualities, and philosophical outlook. About the Author Plato (427–347 BC) ranks as the most important figure in the development of the Western philosophical tradition. His inexhaustible dialogues cover a wide range of philosophical questions and issues and are as enduringly alive and meaningful as they were 2,400 years ago.