Plato’s Theaetetus on the Love of Truth and Truthfulness

• In Event: The Political Theory of Sentiments and Passions

Abstract

This paper discusses the love of truth and truthfulness in Plato’s Theaetetus as they are shaped, sometimes sharpened, but often impeded by political, social, and moral phenomena that we think ought not to be relevant to them, such as fear, pride, hope, acquisitiveness, and the desire for honor. The paper will explore the fine line between the proper pursuit of truth and its corruptions, showing how they grow out of common roots in human nature, and concluding with a reflection on how Plato might illuminate our current concerns about truthfulness and trust in American political life.

Author

• Lorraine Pangle, University of Texas, Austin