Plato: Phaedrus

Plato

Cambridge University Press, May 11, 1972 - History - 172 pages

The dialogue begins with a playful discussion of erotic passion, then extends the theme to consider the nature of inspiration, love and knowledge. The centerpiece is the myth of the charioteer - the famous and moving account of the vision, fall and incarnation of the soul. Professor Hackforth here translates the dialogue for the student and general reader. There is a running commentary on the course of the argument and the meaning of the key Greek terms, and a full intoduction to explain the philosophical background and the place of this work among Plato's writings.

Contents

• 227A230E INTRODUCTORY CONVERSATION THE SCENE ON THE BANK OF THE ILISSUS: 21
• 230E234C THE SPEECH OF LYSIAS: 27
• 234C237B CRITICISM OF LYSIASS SPEECH SOCRATES IS INDUCED TO TREAT THE THEME HIMSELF: 32
• 237B238C SOCRATES BEGINS HIS SPEECH A DEFINITION OF LOVE: 38
• 238C241D SOCRATES CONCLUDES HIS FIRST SPEECH: 43
• 241D243E INTERLUDE LEADING TO SOCRATESS RECANTATION: 50
• 243E245C SOCRATES BEGINS HIS SECOND SPEECH THREE TYPES OF DIVINE MADNESS: 56
• 245C246A THE IMMORTALITY OF SOUL: 63
• 246A247C MYTH OF THE SOUL THE CHARIOTEER AND TWO HORSES THE PROCESSION OF SOULS: 69
• 247C248E THE SOULS VISION OF TRUE BEING ITS FALL AND INCARNATION: 78
• 248E249D REINCARNATION AND FINAL LIBERATION OF THE SOUL THE PHILOSOPHERS PRIVILEGE: 85
• 249D250D THE SOULS RECOLLECTION OF IDEAL BEAUTY: 92
• 25OE252C LOVE AS THE REGROWING OF THE SOULS WINGS: 96
• 252C253C THE VARIOUS TYPES OF LOVER: 99
• 253C256E THE SUBJUGATION OF LUST LOVE AND COUNTERLOVE: 103
• 256E257B THE SPEECH CONCLUDED A PRAYER FOR LYSIAS AND PHAEDRUS: 110
• 257B258E PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATION OF SPEECHWRITING: 113
• 258E259D INTERLUDE THE MYTH OF THE CICADAS: 117
• 259E261A RHETORIC AND KNOWLEDGE: 119
• 261A264E KNOWLEDGE OF RESEMBLANCES AND DIFFERENCES: 123
• 264E266B DIALECTIC METHOD AS EXHIBITED IN PRECEDING SPEECHES: 131
• 266C269C THE TECHNIQUE OF EXISTING RHETORIC: 138
• 269C272B PHILOSOPHY AND RHETORIC PERICLESS DEBT TO ANAXAGORAS: 145
• 272B274B THE TRUE METHOD OF RHETORIC ITS DIFFICULTY AND ITS JUSTIFICATION: 152
• 274B278B THE SUPERIORITY OF THE SPOKEN WORD MYTH OF THE INVENTION OF WRITING: 156
• 278B279C MESSAGES TO LYSIAS AND ISOCRATES: 165
• INDEX OF NAMES: 171

About the author

Plato was born c. 427 B.C. in Athens, Greece, to an aristocratic family very much involved in political government. Pericles, famous ruler of Athens during its golden age, was Plato's stepfather. Plato was well educated and studied under Socrates, with whom he developed a close friendship. When Socrates was publically executed in 399 B.C., Plato finally distanced himself from a career in Athenian politics, instead becoming one of the greatest philosophers of Western civilization. Plato extended Socrates's inquiries to his students, one of the most famous being Aristotle. Plato's The Republic is an enduring work, discussing justice, the importance of education, and the qualities needed for rulers to succeed. Plato felt governors must be philosophers so they may govern wisely and effectively. Plato founded the Academy, an educational institution dedicated to pursuing philosophic truth. The Academy lasted well into the 6th century A.D., and is the model for all western universities. Its formation is along the lines Plato laid out in The Republic. Many of Plato's essays and writings survive to this day. Plato died in 347 B.C. at the age of 80.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Plato: Phaedrus; Issue 119 of Library of liberal arts
• Author: Plato
• Editor: R. Hackforth
• Translated by: R. Hackforth
• Contributor: R. Hackforth
• Edition: illustrated, reprint
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1972
• ISBN: 0521097037, 9780521097031
• Length: 172 pages
• Subjects: History / Ancient / General; Literary Criticism / Ancient & Classical; Philosophy / History & Surveys / Ancient & Classical