Abstract

The “Digression” in Plato’s Theaetetus compares between philosopher’s life and orator’s of which I’m going to render an analytic report. There are some questions: how and why Plato’s discussion on the general definition of “Knowledge” is led to the “Digression” and what are the key themes of it? What is the role of the “Digression” in the Theaetetus? The “Digression”, apparently and besides the content, not conflicts with the whole of the Theaetetus. Because Plato, naturally and not conventionally, transits to the “Digression”, from the process of a judgment on the superiority of some people to others. After all, the content of “Digression” is in consistence with Plato’s doctrines. The apparent conclusion of the Theaetetus, relying on the individuals, is negative. However, the “Digression”, explicitly or implicitly, refers to the previous existence of the Forms. But, regarding to the “Digression”, the impossibility of the definition of “Knowledge” without universal Forms is the important message of the Dialogue.