A Plato Primer by Evans John David Gemmill

Author:Evans, John David Gemmill.
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781317492139
Publisher: Taylor & Francis (CAM)

DIALECTIC AND DIALOGUE

Here are three examples of issues where different texts point us in deeply different directions: the conceptual nature of reality, the ideal status of the best form of society, and the dynamic character of the intelligible world. Many more could be added. The discussions that generate these examples indicate a complexity in Plato’s thought that belies the simplistic label “Platonism” often given to certain leading aspects of it. Some commentators try to address the apparent inconsistencies by developmental theories according to which Plato’s thought changed radically over time. Others try to reinterpret the awkward texts as ironic and not meaning what they seem to. Also in the field is a hermeneutic tendency that, picking up some remarks in Plato about the weakness and unreliability of written communication, argues that his true philosophy is to be found not in his writings but, if possible, elsewhere.

None of these positions is plausible. There are no sharp chronological markers that enable us to separate off one text from another written by a philosopher who is older and therefore different. The “awkward” texts cannot and should not be set aside. Plato’s written works are what we have to try to understand. A Plato who writes that his writings contain none of the truth can no more be literally so interpreted than was Socrates when he professed to know that he knew nothing.

What is left is to accept the tensions and regard them as integral parts of Plato’s philosophy. When Socrates asked questions and propounded no theories of his own, he left it open that philosophical progress could be made by moving ahead in different directions. What counted was that we follow the constraints of rational enquiry, not of some preconceived theoretical position. Plato always remained true to this insight in his philosophy. He developed positive methods for addressing an issue constructively; and since his time these ideas have been immensely fruitful in generating scientific methodology. He gave these ideas the name of dialectic, but with the hindsight afforded by Aristotle’s and Kant’s concepts of dialectic, we can see that there is much more in Plato’s own theorizing about dialectic that merits this description.

Long after he has directly reported on Socratic practice, the dialogue form remains the true medium of Plato’s thought. The ideal may be a simple linear approach to the truth, but the reality is more sinuous and multifaceted. The spirit of this complex amalgam of methods has lived on in philosophy ever since Plato wrote.

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