Readings

There are three reading assignments for this topic.

1. Plato, Parmenides 132a-133a (concentrating on 132a-b and 132d-e).
2. Vlastos, G., "The Third Man Argument in the Parmenides," Philosophical Review 63 (1954) 319-349.
3. Cohen, S. M., "The Logic of the Third Man," Philosophical Review 80 (1971) 448-475.

These readings are all linked to this web page.  The excerpt from Plato (in html format) is available on a separate web page. The articles by Vlastos and Cohen are  photo copies of the original articles, in the form of Portable Document Files (pdf files). In order for you to view and print these files, the computer you are using must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed. All the computers in the Philosophy Computer Lab have this program.  If you are accessing this site from a different computer, you may have to install the Reader. (It's free.) You may do so at Adobe's web site; the program is also available as part of the University of Washington Internet Connectivity Kit (UWICK). The Department of Philosophy has copies of UWICK available in the office.

There are also paper offprints of my article available in the Department office, in the course file for PHIL 500.  Ask any of the office staff for a copy.

Syllabus

For Tuesday, October 23:  read the Plato excerpt and the article by Vlastos.  Try to answer the following questions -- write (and bring to class) a brief paragraph on each.

1. What is an infinite regress?
2. What makes an infinite regress vicious?  
3. Is the Third Man regress vicious?  If so, why?  If not, why not?
4. What is the principle of self-predication?  Does it make any sense?

For Thursday, October 25: read the article by Cohen.  Come to class prepared to discuss these questions:

1. What is the issue in dispute between Vlastos and Cohen?
2. What is the difference between predication and participation?  Between self-predication and self-participation?
3. What, if anything, does the Third Man Argument show about Plato's Theory of Forms?

Visit Marc Cohen's Home Page

  Send e-mail to Professor Cohen at smcohen@u.washington.edu

This page was last updated on 10/16/01.