
Theaetetus suggests that
"KNOWLEDGE IS PERCEPTION",
and Socrates identifies the theory as the Protagorean view that
"MAN IS THE MEASURE OF ALL THE THINGS",
but since the Protageraen theory applies only to sensation,
and since it is possible to see without knowing what one sees,
or to know without seeing,the theory is unsatisfactory.
..
The Protagorean doctrine that
"THE WORLD OF SENSE EXPERIENCE IS A FLUX"
is unacceptable to Socrates because
"IF EVERYTHING WERE FLUX,KNOWLEDGE WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE"
for knowledge involves the unchanging by reference to which the changing is understood.
..
To understand the raw data of sense one must refer to IDEAS,the forms or natures of sensible things ; thus,one could not know by perception alone.-The Ideas are not specifically mentioned-.
..
The proposal that
"KNOWLEDGE IS TRUE OPINION"
does not provide a criterion for deciding definitely whether an opinion is true ;
nor is it satisfactory to say that knowledge is true opinion supported by reasons,
for such an account is circular.
..
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