Myth and Philosophy in Plato s Phaedrus

Transcription

1 Myth and Philosophy in Plato s Phaedrus Plato s dialogues frequently criticize traditional Greek myth, yet Plato also integrates myth with his writing. confronts this paradox through an in-depth analysis of the Phaedrus, Plato s most mythical dialogue. Werner argues that the myths of the Phaedrus serve several complex functions: they bring nonphilosophers into the philosophical life; they offer a starting point for philosophical inquiry; they unify the dialogue as a literary and dramatic whole; they draw attention to the limits of language and the limits of knowledge; and they allow Plato to co-opt cultural authority as a way of defining and legitimating the practice of philosophy. Platonic myth, as a species of traditional tale, is thus both distinct from philosophical dialectic and similar to it. Ultimately, the most powerful effect of Platonic myth is the way in which it leads readers to participate in Plato s dialogues and to engage in a process of self-examination. is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the State University of New York at New Paltz. His articles have appeared in Oxford Studies in Ancient Philosophy, Greece and Rome, Ancient Philosophy, and International Philosophical Quarterly.

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3 Myth and Philosophy in Plato s Phaedrus State University of New York at New Paltz

4 cambridge university press Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, São Paulo, Delhi, Mexico City Cambridge University Press 32 Avenue of the Americas, New York, ny , usa Information on this title: / This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press. First published 2012 Printed in the United States of America A catalog record for this publication is available from the British Library. Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication data Werner, Daniel S., 1976 Myth and philosophy in Plato s Phaedrus /. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. isbn Plato. Phaedrus. 2. Rhetoric, Ancient Early works to Love Early works to I. Title. b380.w dc isbn Hardback Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of urls for external or third-party Internet Web sites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Web sites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

5 Contents 1 Introduction page The Question of Myth The Historical and Cultural Context of Platonic Myth The Varieties of Myth in the Dialogues The Philosophical Questions Surrounding Myth Structure and Scope of This Book Methodological Considerations 15 2 Boreas, Typhon, and the Allegorization of Myth The Opening Scene The Myth of Boreas and Oreithuia Allegorical Interpretation The Critique of Allegorical Interpretation The Importance of Self-Knowledge Saying Goodbye to Myth The Philosophical Use of Myth 41 3 The Palinode: Soul and Eros Context Proof The Limits of Psychological Discourse The Nature of the Soul Intrapersonal Communication Myth and Thumos Myth as a Model Eros and Muthos Eschatology 77 4 The Palinode: Forms and Knowledge The Divine Banquet Forms as the Objects of Knowledge The Nature and Attainability of Knowledge 91 v

6 vi Contents 4.4 Myth and the Limits of Knowledge Myth and the Limits of Language The Yogic View of Platonic Myth Myth and Recollection The Palinode: Tradition and Philosophy The Platonic Appropriation of Tradition The Construction of Philosophy Turning toward Philosophy Myth for Whom? The Cicadas Context The Danger of the Cicada Song The History of the Cicadas The Role of the Cicada Myth Rhetoric and Dialectic The Nature of Rhetoric The True Art of Rhetoric Dialectic Theuth, Thamus, and the Critique of Writing Orality and the Rise of Writing in Plato s Athens Theuth and Thamus The Critique of Writing The Gardens of Adonis and Legitimate Discourse Writing and Platonic Myth Writing and Platonic Dialogue The Limits of Discourse and Discursive Thought Play and Seriousness A Concluding Prayer The Phaedrus as a Whole The Phaedrus and the Problem of Unity Myth and Thematic Unity Myth and Structural Unity The Strategic Approach to Unity Conclusion The Functions of Platonic Myth The Nature and Value of Myth The Nature of Platonic Writing In Search of the Swan 268 Bibliography 273 Index of Passages from Plato 295 General Index 299