Phaedrus: And, The Seventh and Eighth LettersIn the "Phaedrus" Plato(427-347 B.C.) is concerned with establishing the principles of rhetoric. Through the mouths of Socrates and Phaedrus he argues that rhetoric is only acceptable as an art when it is firmly based on the truth inspired by love, the common experience of true philosophic activity. It is in this dialogue that Plato employs the famous image of love as the driver of the chariot of souls. The seventh and eight letters (which are accepted as genuine amongst those attributed to Plato) provide fascinating glimpses into the contemporary power struggle in Sicily and evidence his failure to put into practice his theory of philosopher-king. |
Contents
Introduction to PHAEDRUS | 7 |
THE PHAEDRUS | 19 |
Introduction to TWO PLATONIC LETTERS | 105 |
THE SEVENTH LETTER | 111 |
THE EIGHTH LETTER | 151 |
| 159 | |
Common terms and phrases
acquired advice Anaxagoras argument art of rhetoric art of speaking Athenian Athens attempt beauty believe beloved Callippus charioteer constitution conviction course dear Phaedrus described desire dialogue Dion Dion's property Dionysius Dionysius II discussion divine effect Eighth Letter enemies evil fact favour follow friends friendship give gods Gorgias Greek happened hearers heaven Heracleides Hipparinus honour horse immortal inspired Isocrates kind kings knowledge living lover Lysias madness matter mean method mind Muses myth nature of soul never non-lover object Oreithyia passion Peloponnese Pericles PHAEDRUS philosopher physical Plato pleasure Plutarch political prime origin Protagoras pursuit reality reason reproach Republic rhetoric ruler seems sense Seventh Letter Sicilian Sicily SOCRATES speaker speech Stesichorus suppose Symposium Syracusans Syracuse tell Theodotes Theuth things thought Thrasymachus tion Tisias true truth whole wings wisdom words writing written Zeus