1
Preliminary Considerations

We set the whole following endeavour under a principle enunciated by Plato in the course of the dialogue (187 e 2): κρεῖττον γάρ που σμικρὸν εὖ ἢ πολὺ μὴ ἱκανῶς περᾶναι. 'More is accomplished by a proper treatment of little than by an inadequate treatment of much.'

§ 20. The Question Concerning the Essence of ἐπιστήμη: Man's Attack on the Self-evidences of His Self-understanding

The necessary method of interpretation leads us to the centre of our question. We do not therefore go schematically through the dialogue¹ from beginning to end; we completely abandon the attitude of the mere reader. In somewhat impertinent fashion we cut into, as co-questioning auditors, the already progressing conversation, without knowing the beginning or end, yet at a point where we immediately feel something of the whole.²

We encounter Socrates, the mathematician Theodorus, and the young Theaetetus, all in conversation, at just the moment when Socrates says to Theaetetus (184 b 4ff.):³

Ἔτι τοίνυν, ὦ Θεαίτητε, τοσόνδε περὶ τῶν εἰρημένων ἐπίσκεψαι. αἴσθησιν γὰρ δὴ ἐπιστήμην ἀπεκρίνω: ἦ γάρ;

Ναί.

'With regard to what we have been talking about, Theaetetus, consider this further point. You answered that perception is knowledge, did you not?'

'Yes'