Plato's ‘Comprehensive Reason (perilēptikos logos)’ in Sextus Empiricus M. 7.141-4

This paper aims to examine Plato's epistemology by comparison with the interpretation by the later philosophers, such as the Stoics and Antiochus. In this paper, I will evaluate Sextus' passage at M. 7.141-4, which reports the criterion of truth in Plato on the basis of close connection of evidence and reason. This excerpt is composed of two parts: in the first half Sextus introduces Plato's criterion (i.e. comprehensive reason) by reference to Timaeus; and in the second half some Platonists' account of this term. I have in mind two questions: (i) How strong is the Stoic influence on this report on Plato? (ii) Is this passage compatibile with Plato's theory of knowledge? I believe that Sextus' account in M. 7.141-4 is based on two parts of Plato's dialogues, that is, Timaeus and Theaetetus. Each dialogue is concerned with the principles of the physical world and with the mechanism of perception in relation to reason.