The idea that my soul can attain divine knowledge ... — introbert
I simply, naively and perhaps foolishly cling to this, that nothing else makes it beautiful other than the presence of, or the sharing in, or however you may describe its relationship to that Beautiful we mentioned, for I will not insist on the precise nature of the relationship, but that all beautiful things are beautiful by the Beautiful. (100e)
Is it fair to say that goodness can be understood as an expression/instantiation of unified wholeness ... — Tom Storm
The good is not the source of everything; rather it is the cause of things that are in a good way, while it is not responsible for the bad things. (379b)
I am surprised to hear that. What elements of neo-platonism do you find? — Fooloso4
In the Phaedrus Socrates compares the well written work to a living animal with each part having a function working together to form a whole. This tells us how a well written work should be read - as a whole, with each part having its function working together in a particular way to form that whole. On the assumption that the Platonic dialogues are well written works, Plato himself tells us how they are to be read. — Fooloso4
An academic approach to Plato would not settle in any one interpretation, but would just explain what we know about the times and the various ways Plato has been interpreted since. — frank
Your approach to Plato is like the theological approach where you're using your own intuitions to guide you in arriving at a meaning. In particular, this is a Protestant approach. — frank
But I'm sure you agree that each of us needs to be honest and say, "This is my interpretation." — frank
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