Euthydemus

"Euthydemus" is a dialogue by Plato, believed to have been written in the mid-4th century BCE. The dialogue centers around two sophists, Euthydemus and Dionysodorus, who arrive in Athens and begin to teach their brand of argumentative philosophy to young students. Socrates, the main character and interlocutor in the dialogue, engages with the sophists and exposes the flaws in their reasoning. Throughout the dialogue, the sophists engage in a series of complex and often confusing arguments, using various techniques to confuse and deceive their opponents. Socrates attempts to show that their arguments are fundamentally flawed and that they rely on false premises and circular reasoning. Overall, "Euthydemus" is a powerful critique of the sophists and their brand of rhetoric, and it highlights the importance of critical thinking and logical reasoning in the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom. Read in English, unabridged.