Plato - Sophist and Statesman (part 1)

In this lecture, Roger explores Plato's Sophist — a dialogue where Plato begins to unmask one of philosophy's most dangerous figures: the sophist, a master of illusion who trades in false beliefs and leads the soul away from truth. Through the eyes of a mysterious unnamed stranger from the school of Parmenides, we examine the crucial distinction between likeness and semblance, the nature of false statement, and why the sophist's true home is the realm of non-being. Rooted in the Hermetic and Neoplatonic wisdom tradition, this lecture reveals how the purification of the mind — through honest inquiry, the discipline of differentiation, and the courage to sit with perplexity — is not merely an intellectual exercise, but the very path by which the soul reclaims its freedom and its capacity to know what is real.This presentation was originally delivered by Roger Weir on March 15, 1990.More information about these presentations can be found athttps://sharedpresencefoundation.org/presentations/platohttps://sharedpresencefoundation.org/presentations/platos-theory-of-educationhttps://sharedpresencefoundation.org/presentations/plato-iiMore presentations by Roger Weir are available at the Shared Presence Foundation website and on our YouTube channel