The epistemic reach of aisthēsis in Theaetetus 184-6

Abstract

Thispaper explores the scope of the theses presented in Theaetetus184-6 concerning the epistemic capacity of aisthēsis. I develop two main argu-ments in this analysis. First, I situate the passage within the broader context of 151-183 and propose that the argument in 184-6 stands independently of the analysis of the Protagorean theses conducted in 151-183. Then, I analyze the traditional reading of 184-6, which holds that aisthēsislacks cognition, and contrast this perspective with that of those who argue that Plato allows for some judicative content at the sensory level. I demonstrate that both readings exaggerate the importance of Plato’s defended position in 184-6, particularly regarding the epistemic limits of perception.