GENERAL INTRODUCTION Plato is here at work on his own great problem If what we know is a single permanent law under which a multitude of things are ranged, what is the link between the one and the many The Sophist contains some of his ripest thought on this increas- ingly urgent question his confident advance beyond which hardly disguises the continuous exposition of a lecture. We observe an attention to physical science the association of soul, motion, and existence, and he comparative study of being and not-being. The Politicus returns to the topic of state-government, and carries on the process of acquiring perfect notions of reality by the classification of things. Perhaps we should see in the absolute"mean which is posited as the standard of all arts, business, and conduct, a contribution from Aristotle. The Philebus, in dealing with pleasure and knowledge, dwells further on the correct division and classific- ation required if our reason, as it surely must, is to apprehend truth. The method is becoming more thorough and more complex, and Plato's hope of bringing it to completion is more remote. But he is gaining a clearer insight into the problem of unity The magnificent myth of the Timaeu by a Pythagorean, describes the structur universe, so as to show how the One he Many. We have here th reflections of Plato on space, time, soul, and many Digitized by Microsoft (B
GENERAL INTRODUCTION Plato is here at work on his own great problem : If what we know is a single permanent law under which a multitude of things are ranged, what is the link between the one and the many ? The Sophist contains some of his ripest thought on this increas- ingly urgent question : his confident advance beyond Socratic teaching is indicated by the literary form, which hardly disguises the continuous exposition of a lecture. We observe an attention to physical science, the association of soul, motion, and existence, and the comparative study of being and not-being. The Poliiicus returns to the topic of state-government, and carries on the process of acquiring perfect notions of reality by the classification of things. Perhaps we should see in the absolute "mean" which is posited as the standard of all arts, business, and conduct, a contribution from Aristotle. The Philebus, in dealing with pleasure and knowledge, dwells further on the correct division and classific- ation required if our reason, as it surely must, is to apprehend truth. The method is becoming more thorough and more complex, and Plato's hope of bringing it to completion is more remote. But he is gaining a clearer insight into the problem of unity and plurality. The magnificent myth of the Timaeus, related by a Pythagorean, describes the structure of the universe, so as to show how the One manifests itself as the Many. We have here the latest reflections of Plato on space, time, soul, and many xvii
GENERAL INTRODUCTION physical matters. In the lengthy treatise of the Lans, he addresses himself to the final duty of the philosopher as announced in the Republic: a long habituation to abstract thought will qualify rather than disqualify him for the practical regulation of public and private affairs. Attention is fixed once more on soul, as the energy of the world and the vehicle of our sovereign reason. Thus Plato maintains the fixity of the objects of knowledge in a great variety of studies, which enlarge he compass of Socrates'teaching till it embraces enough material for complete systems of logic and metaphysics. How far these systems were actually worked out in the discussions of the Academy we can only surmise from the Dialogues themselves and a careful comparison of Aristotle whose writings, however, have come down to us in a much less perfect state. But it seems probable that,to Plato was too fertile in thought to rest content with one authoritative body of doctrine. We may be able to detect in the Timaens a tendency to view numbers as the real principles of things and we may conjecture a late-found interest in the ysical complexion of the world. As a true artist, th a keen sense of the beauty and stir of life Plato had this interest, in a notable degree, through out: but in speaking of his enthusiasm for science we must regard him rather as a great inventor of ciences than as what we should now call a scientist This is giving him a splendid name, which few me xviii Digitized by Microsoft(
GENERAL INTRODUCTION physical matters. In the lengthy treatise of the Laws, he addresses himself to the final duty of the philosopher as announced in the Republic : a long habituation to abstract thought will qualify rather than disqualify him for the practical regulation of public and private affairs. Attention is fixed once more on soul, as the energy of the world and the vehicle of our sovereign reason. Thus Plato maintains the fixity of the objects of knowledge in a great variety of studies, which enlarge the compass of Socrates' teaching till it embraces enough material for complete systems of logic and metaphysics. How far these systems were actually worked out in the discussions of the Academy we can only surmise from the Dialogues themselves and a careful comparison of Aristotle ; whose writings, however, have come down to us in a much less perfect state. But it seems probable that, to the end, Plato was too fertile in thought to rest content with one authoritative body of doctrine. We may be able to detect in the Timaeus a tendency to view numbers as the real principles of things ; and we may conjecture a late-found interest in the physical complexion of the world. As a true artist, with a keen sense of the beauty and stir of life, Plato had this interest, in a notable degree, throughout : but in speaking of his enthusiasm for science we must regard him rather as a great inventor of sciences than as what we should now call a scientist. This is giving him a splendid name, which few men xviii
GENERAL INTRODUCTION have earned. Some of his inventions may be un realisable, but it is hard to find one that is certainly utile. There are faws in his arguments: to state them clearly and fairly is to win the privilege of taking part in a discussion at the Academy W.R. M. LAMB Digitized by Microsoft(R
GENERAL INTRODUCTION have earned. Some of his inventions may be uurealisable, but it is hard to find one that is certainly futile. There are flaws in his arguments : to state them clearly and fairly is to win the privilege of taking part in a discussion at the Academy. W. R. M. LAMB. 301
SIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE(1ggo For comprehensive bibliographies the reader is referred to W.K. C. Guthrie, A History of Greek Philosoph Volume Four: Plato, The Man and His Dialogues, Earlier Period, Cambridge, 1975, pages 562-581, and Volume Five: The Later Plato and the Academy, Cambria 1978, pages 493-514. The following is a selection of recent work on the dialogues included in this volume Euthyphro Reginald E. Allen: Plato's 'Euthyphro and Earlier The ory of Forms, London, 1970 Laszlo Versenyi: Holiness and Justice: An Interpretation of Platos Euthyphro, Washington, D. C, 198 Ap Socrates and Legal obligation( ology and Crito), Minneapolis, and N. D. Smith: Socrates on C.D.C. Reeve: Socrates in the Apology, Indianapolis, I. F. Stone: The Trial of Socrates, New York, 1988 Thomas G. West: Plato's Apology of Socrates: An Inter- pretation with a New Translation, Ithaca, 1979 Digitized by Microsoft(8
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE (1990) For comprehensive bibliographies the reader is referred to W. K. C. Guthrie, A History of Greek Philosophy, Volume Four: Plato, The Man and His Dialogues, Earlier Period, Cambridge, 1975, pages 562-581, and Volume Five: The Later Plato and the Academy, Cambridge, 1978, pages 493-514. The following is a selection of recent work on the dialogues included in this volume. Euthyphro Reginald E. Allen: Plato's 'Euthyphro' and Earlier Theory of Forms, London, 1970. Laszlo Versenyi: Holiness and Justice: An Interpretation of Plato's Euthyphro, Washington, D.C., 1982. Apology Reginald E. Allen: Socrates and Legal Obligation (including trs. of Apology and Crito), Minneapolis, 1980. T. C. Brickhouse and N. D. Smith: Socrates on Trial, Oxford, 1988. C. D. C. Reeve: Socrates in the Apology, Indianapolis, 1989. I. F. Stone: The Trial of Socrates, New York, 1988. Thomas G. West: Plato's Apology of Socrates: An Inter- pretation with a New Translation, Ithaca, 1979
Crito Anthony Douglas Woozley: Law and Obedience: The of Plato s Crito, Chapel Hill David Bostock: Platos Phaedo, Oxford Kenneth Dorter: Platos Phaedo, An Interpretation oronto, 1962 David Gallop: Platos Phaedo, Translation and N as:A Study of Phaedrus, Cambridge, 1987 Griswold: Self-knowledge in Plato's Phaedrus General Terence Irwin: Plato's Moral Theory: The Early and urveys L. Brisson: Platon 1958-1975, Lustrum XX(1977)5- L. Brisson(with H Ioannidi):"Platon 1975-1980, Lus trum xxv(198)31-320 Digitized by Microsoft(
Crito Anthony Douglas Woozley: Law and Obedience: The Arguments of Plato's Crito, Chapel Hill, 1979. Phaedo David Bostock: Plato's Phaedo, Oxford, 1986. Kenneth Dorter: Plato's Phaedo, An Interpretation, Toronto, 1982. David Gallop: Plato's Phaedo, Translation and Notes, Oxford, 1975. Phaedrus Giovanni Ferrari: Listening to the Cicadas: A Study of Plato's Phaedrus, Cambridge, 1987. Charles L. Griswold: Self-knowledge in Plato's Phaedrus, New Haven, 1986. General Terence Irwin: Plato's Moral Theory: The Early and Middle Dialogues, Oxford, 1977. Surveys L. Brisson: "Platon 1958-1975," Lustrum XX (1977) 5- 304- L. Brisson (with H. loannidi): "Platon 1975-1980," Lus- trum xxv (1983) 31-320