In this article, three definitions of the ideal of the pepaideumenos (learned man) are examined in their mutual relations. In the pseudo-Platonic dialogue Amatores, the culture of the pepaideumenos is conceived as exhaustive as regards content, whereas it is attributed a merely 'formal' character in Plato's Charmides. However, on the theoretical level both solutions appear to be unsatisfactory. Aristotle's proposal is more convincing. He considers the pepaideumenos as the man who is able to assess the technicians' preparation adequately, since he knows the endoxa either with reference to knowledge as a whole or to individual technai. In all three cases, the example of the iatrikê (medicine) is the means to test the validity of the proposed resolutions.
