Plato and the Socratic Dialogue

by Kahn

This book offers a new interpretation of Plato's early and middle dialogues as the expression of a unified philosophical vision. Whereas the traditional view sees the dialogues as marking successive stages in Plato's philosophical development, we may more legitimately read them as reflecting an artistic plan for the gradual, indirect and partial exposition of Platonic philosophy. The magnificent literary achievement of the dialogues can be fully appreciated only from the viewpoint of a unitarian reading of the philosophical content.

Genres: Philosophy, Ancient History

456 pages, Paperback

First published January 13, 1997

Reviews

[Willem van der Scheun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book about the relation between the character 'Socrates' in Plato's dialogues and the real life person with the same name. Charles Kahm argues convincingly I think, that only in the Apology and possibly the Crito Plato is giving a portrait of Socrates, the person. Contrary to most interpretations he thinks Plato started to develop his own philosophy much earlier and just used the character of Socrates from the very beginning only as a literary device. It's the most consistent description of Plato's thought and development I've read thus far, actually it's the only one. It even made Plato a bit more real and sympathetic and Socrates a lot less irritating.

[Matt Mayevsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lektura obowiązkowa po dialogach Platona. Intelektualny deser.

[L S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a nice contrast to the Vlastos perspective on Plato.