Chapter 2 :The GREEKS |
PLATO'S DIALOGUES |
Scholars have studied Plato's many dialogues very carefully.
Many of them agree that the dialogues were written over many years
and that they appear to have a slightly different tone, which reflects
Plato's intention in writing them. Indeed, scholars who find in them a progression of ideas set
the dialogues in a temporal order. Plato
works from those ideas and methodology he inherits from Socrates and then
devises his own unique set of ideas and further develops the dialectical
method of reasoning, which he learned from Socrates.
Below is a breakdown of the Dialogues into five different categories or
periods. In each group are
those dialogues that appear to have been written with intent different
from that of the other periods. In
this course we shall see the progression throughout the first three
periods. Chronological
Listing of
Plato’s
Dialogues
Plato’s basic problems and periods of philosophical development together
with dialogues indicative of such.
I.
The defense of Socrates from
the charges of
impiety
and corruption of youth. Lysis/Friendship Charmides/Temperance Laches/Courage Euthyphro Apology Crito
(Phaedo envisaged or begun but completed later.)
II.
The defense of Socrates from
the charge of being a Sophist and having an Amoral character.
In
these dialogues there is an attack against the Sophists. Ion Hippias Minor, Gorgias, Menexenus, Protagoras, Euthydemus , Cratylus, Meno
(Republic, Book I, probably called
Thrasymachus)
III. The
need to synthesize a comprehensive view of reality and to deal with the
problem of contradictory speculative theories circulating at the time.
Plato is synthesizing all of
Greek thought up to the time.
Phaedo,
Symposium,
Phaedrus
The Republic
IV.
The need to develop in a
critical fashion such a conceptual framework that would be capable of
enunciating all the distinctions one must make in describing reality and
yet capable of eliciting the meanings one must have.
Plato develops a single coherent worldview.
Parmenides,
Theaetetus,
Sophist,
Statesman,
Timaeus,
Critias
(incomplete)
V.
The need to give a detailed
elaboration of practical proposals as tests for theories.
The
Seventh Letter,
VIII,
Philebus,
Laws
(Plato modifies the Republic)
Note: There exist a
number of spurious dialogues and dialogues whose authenticity is
questioned by many serious scholars.
The above is based on Robert S. Brumbaugh, Plato
and the Modern Age Epilogue to Plato: The Bias of Literacy by Twyla Gibson, Ph.D. Senior McLuhan Fellow list and links to all works of Plato that are known to us. They are provided through the Perseus project at Tufts University. |
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