Abstract

In the present paper I explore the relationship between Plato and the Sophists focusing on persuasion. Plato’s philosophers are closer to the sophists than it is usually assumed, because a complete and exhaustive grasp of the truth exceeds human capacities. This raises the problem of persuasion, which turns out to be decisive for both. And if Plato seems to have a solution in the specific case of the philosophical dialogue between two souls, the situation is much more complicated in the case of politics, because emotions and passions seems to play a more relevant role than the philosopher is ready to accept