La VI Epistola platonica, a d una considerazione attenta, si rivela una lettera spuria, pervasa tutta di esotericità e di misticismo. Essa si ricollega al gruppo delle lettere pitagorizzanti dello pseudo-Platone.

In this paper I try to shed light on platonic criticism of mathematicians for taking hypotheses as principles. The mathematician is forced to resort to hypotheses and go beyond the sensible, but he does, according to Plato, ignoring his own abilities. In this sense, his attitude is similar to that of the majority, lover of opinions, unaware that only thanks to the help of thought is it possible to identify what is offered to the senses. This interpretation fits the dream (...) metaphor, which Plato uses to describe both the attitude of the mathematician and that of the majority. (shrink)

Lafrance thinks that the contemporary interpretations of the simile of the Sun, of the Divided Line, and of the allegory of the Cave have led to hopeless contradictions. Still worse, these contradictions bear on a crucial and essential passage of Plato's mature thought and illustrate the failure of contemporary methods of Platonic exegesis. To present another interpretation of the same type cannot resolve these contradictions. One needs to begin anew after having carefully examined the existing interpretations to determine what flaw (...) they contain. (shrink)

An attempt to re-think, within and for the tradition of Husserl and Heidegger, certain central contributions of Greek thought. Interpretations of the Philebus and of other Platonic and Aristotelian texts concerned with problems arising therefrom are carried out; they culminate in an analysis of the fruitful union of intellectual power and impotence in philosophy. The existentialist framework often provides suggestions for the interpretation of difficult transitions in the classical works; conversely, the adherence to the arguments of the Greek texts strengthens (...) the existentialist position with respect to such concepts as world and rationality.--C. B. (shrink)

Este trabajo se propone estudiar las características de los paralogismos de composición y división (Retórica II 24.II, 1401a), de la consecuencia (Retórica II 24.VI, 1401b20-30) y de la causa aparente (Retórica II 24.VII, 1401b30-34), de modo de analizar si Eurípides los utiliza en el agón de Andrómaca de los versos 577 a 746 This paper intends to study the characteristics of paralogisms due to composition and division (Rhetoric II 24.II, 1401a), due to consequent (Rhetoric II 24.VI, 1401b20-30), and due to (...) false cause (Rhetoric II 24.VII, 1401b30-34), in order to analyze if Euripides uses them in the agon in Andromache (577-746). (shrink)

Comme suite à de précédentes recherches sur des inscriptions Cretoises (BCH 1979 et 1983) on donne d'abord ici (VI) une nouvelle étude de l'inscription de Knossos dite des Epilykoi, publiée en 1948 par N. Platon (vocabulaire et anthroponymie). Ensuite examen des noms crétois de la série Taskos (VII) ; du nom Pratalidas à Lykastos (VIII) et du nom de Matala, canéphore d'Arsinoé à Alexandrie (IX).

In dieser Marburger Vorlesung aus dem Wintersemester 1924/25 stellt sich Heidegger die Aufgabe, Platons Spatdialog "Sophistes" im Ausgang von Aristoteles verstandlich zu machen. Zentrum des einleitenden Aristoteles-Teils ist die Folge der dianoethischen Tugenden im VI. Buch der "Nikomachischen Ethik", in der Heidegger die sich aufsteigernde Stufenfolge eines Entbergens erkennt und demgemass den Primat der "Physis" aus der Uberlegenheit ihres Entbergens begrundet. Damit legt Heidegger die Zusammengehorigkeit von Sein und Wahrheit als Horizont des aristotelisch-griechischen Philosophierens frei und gewinnt so den "Boden", (...) aus dem die platonische Seinsforschung, wie sie im "Sophistes" vorliegt, erwachsen ist. Dementsprechend stellt sich Heidegger im Hauptteil die Aufgabe, in fortlaufender Interpretation des "Sophistes" konkret zu zeigen, dass und wie Platons Ontologie aus dem Entbergen erwachsen ist. Die Vorlesung bezeugt, dass Heidegger die in seinem fruhen Hauptwerk "Sein und Zeit" gestellte Frage nach dem "Sinn von Sein", d.h. nach der Un-verborgenheit des Seins in der Auseinandersetzung mit der philosophischen Uberlieferung gewonnen hat. (shrink)

La 4e de couv. indique : "Il platonismo è l'esclusivo "sfondo" teoretico della cultura filosofica di lingua latina tra il IV secolo e il XII, "scenario" che comprende, e si confonde con, gli elementi aristotelici, stoici e neopitagorici che le fonti del pensiero medievale trasmettono agli ambienti colti latini secondo le forme dell'uso neoplatonico della tradizione filosofica classica ed ellenistica. Scopo di questo lavoro è evidenziare, alla luce di testi e problematiche rappresentativi della tradizione filosofica del medioevo latino "alto" (secc. (...) VI-X) e "centrale" (secc. XI-XII), le trasformazioni del modello tardoantico di filosofia come scienza dell'essere e del rapporto tra quest'ultima e la teologia mistica, collegando tale movimento delle idee ai contesti, civili e religiosi, e alla crescita della biblioteca filosofica, che, a fronte di una scarsa conoscenza diretta dei dialoghi di Platone, consentono di usare le idee che indirettamente sono a lui riferite e la sua immagine in funzione dell'attualità culturale.". (shrink)

Cette édition numérique a été réalisée à partir d'un support physique, parfois ancien, conservé au sein du dépôt légal de la Bibliothèque nationale de France, conformément à la loi n° 2012-287 du 1er mars 2012 relative à l'exploitation des Livres indisponibles du XXe siècle. La philosophie de Platon se trouve ici interrogée sur la conception de l'alphabet, c'est-à-dire sur les éléments qui rendent possibles la lecture, l'écriture et l'énonciation de quelque pensée que ce soit. « Copyright Electre » Pages (...) de début Introduction Note bibliographique I - De l'écriture II - Une chimère d'écriture III - Le savoir des lettres IV - On n'entend pas la voix de Platon V - L'ame comme un livre VI - L'épaisseur du sémantique VII - L'orthotès, orthophonie, orthographe VIII - Redécouverte du phonétique IX - Stoicheïologie et définition X - La combinaison des genres et le concept d'élément XI - De la lecture XII - Le réceptacle Les archétypes et leur inscription ConclusionIndex nominum Index rerum Pages de fin. (shrink)

Il rapporto di Nietzsche con Platone è più complesso di quanto larga parte della letteratura secondaria sia solita riconoscere. Aurora, opera poco considerata da questo punto di vista, offre numerosi motivi di interesse. Nietzsche vi ripropone una caratterizzazione plurale, sovrabbondante della personalità platonica la cui fondamentale dimensione politica viene ripensata in prossimità ai temi della libertà del filosofo e della potenza. Non meno interessanti la discussione nietzschiana della passione della conoscenza in rapporto a Platone e la sua utilizzazione della sensibilità (...) e delle prospettive della filosofia greca in chiave di critica alla eticità dei costumi cristiano-moderna. (shrink)

On dit et répète que, dans la République, Platon a chassé les poètes de la cité. L’affirmation n’est pas fausse, à condition d’ajouter plusieurs réserves et précisions qui, si on les prend au sérieux, donnent une image très différente de l’attitude de Platon envers la poésie. La cité a besoin de poètes : une partie essentielle de l’éducation des gardiens (livres II-III) repose sur la musique-poésie, et c’est bien pourquoi Platon s’attarde longuement sur les règles à respecter (...) en la matière. Cette poésie soumise à la censure n’est pourtant pas la seule admise : vis-à-vis de la poésie existante (Homère, les Tragiques), le philosophe adopte une position nuancée : elle a beaucoup de charme, et si elle a beaucoup de défauts, il n’est pourtant pas impossible de l’accueillir dans la cité pour peu que les citoyens soient munis de l’antidote fourni par l’éducation. C’est à cette dernière qu’on doit apporter tous ses soins, à celle des gardiens mais aussi à celle des citoyens ordinaires. (shrink)

It is argued that Plato views forms as the proper objects of mathematical research, in contrast to what Aristotle says about the ontologically intermediate state of math?matiká in Platonism. Plato’s particularistic conception of ideas is compared with the nowadays customary mathematical practice of studying types of structures by examining canonical representatives. The case is illustrated by considering the shift from a universalistic conception of natural numbers, in the Frege-Russell-tradition, to a particularistic conception, as in von Neumann. Finally, the characterization of (...) dialectical thinking ventured by Plato at the end of Politeia VI is related, by evaluating Gödel’s incompleteness result, to the Gödelian model of what can be recognized as a partial transcending of the limits of axiomatic systems. (shrink)

The paper argues that it is a mistake to turn Plato into an enemy of the many. The passage Rep. VI, 493e-494a belongs to a criticism of special circumstances, i. e. the Athenian democracy, it cannot be used to infer a principled stand against democratic ideas as such. My main argument is based on Rep. VI, 499d-500a, a passage where Socrates does speak his mind an warns explicitly against a contempt of the many.

The usual interpretation of Republic 10 takes it as Socrates’ multilevel philosophical demonstration of the untruth and dangerousness of mimesis and its required excision from a well ordered polity. Such readings miss the play of the Platonic mimesis which has within it precisely ordered antistrophes which turn its oft remarked strophes perfectly around. First, this argument, famously concluding to the unreliability of image-makers for producing knowledge begins with two images—the mirror (596e) and the painter. I will show both undercut the (...) argument they introduce. Secondly, Socrates repeats the “three removes” argument three times. Each has its own object and philosophical axis. The “bed” argument (596a-598d) concerns the ontological status of images vis-à-vis human makers and the divine idea. The bit and bridle,” 601b-601d) emphasizes the epistemological status of image-making as beneath the human maker of bridles (having correct opinion) and the human user, who knows. This second takes away the ontological distinction which was the point of the first. Thus, any human being could be in any of the three positions—user, maker, imitator. This dance might bring one to doubt the conclusion that the imitator has “neither knowledge nor right opinion” (602a). Plato leads into his concluding psychological and moral argument (602c-605c) after a third variation of the 3 removes. This last gives us the image of the flute player (601d-602) as the one who knows and so can order the flute maker. We will conclude by considering what it is this flutist could know, and given that his art is itself a mimesis, who the imitator of this imitative artist could be. Thus attention to the differences among these examples opens a defense of the arts, which reverses many of the claims made against the arts within the ostensible “Platonic” argument. (shrink)

Limits of the Conversation about Forms. Types of Knowledge and Necessity of Forms in Plato's "Parmenides". - Forms (ideas) are among the things that Plato is serious about. But about these things he says in his "Seventh Letter": "There neither is nor ever will be a treatise of mine on the subject." (341c, transl. J. Harward). Plato's statement suggests the question, why one does not and never can do justice to the Platonic forms by means of a written text about (...) the forms. Another big question of Plato research is whether the conversations documented in the Platonic dialogues are also affected by this verdict. This paper aims to provide, as far as possible, newly substantiated answers to these two questions. To this end, the systematic limits of the discussion about forms, which are particularly evident in Plato's dialogue "Parmenides", are examined in eight steps: First, two types of knowledge are presented that play an important systematic role in Plato's philosophy with regard to the limits of conversation: knowledge-how (practical knowledge) and knowledge-that (propositional knowledge) (I). Then the Socratic model of these two types of knowledge is interpreted, which is drafted in the tenth book of the "Republic". This model uses the example of bridle, bridlemaker and rider to explain the primacy of practical knowledge and the limits of propositional knowledge (II). Subsequently, it will be shown how the dialogues "Republic" and "Parmenides" are connected with each other in content and form (III). The gradation of the two types of knowledge, which is indicated by the motifs of the bridle and the horse on the image level of the "Parmenides", proves to be the structure that systematically underlies the structure of the entire dialogue (IV). It also makes clear why the conversation about the forms in the first part of the "Parmenides" has to fail (V). The assumption that the two parts of the "Parmenides" express two different types of knowledge in dealing with forms is supported by the results of a logical analysis of the last defence of the acceptance of forms (135b-c). This analysis shows why, for reasons of principle, it is impossible to speak adequately about forms (VI). Forms have the function of being presuppositions of 'talking about something'. Thus forms are always presupposed in conversation when one talks about them, and thus elude appropriate discussion in conversation (VII). That this is not only a methodical insight of the Platonic Parmenides, but can also be attributed to Plato himself, is demonstrated by the concluding reinterpretation of the central sentence of the critique of writing in Plato's "Seventh Letter". It will become apparent that, contrary to the now widespread view of the representatives of the Tübingen school, philosophical and also good philological reasons speak for the fact that Plato related his criticism only to the communicability of forms through treatises, i.e. tract-like writings (VIII). (shrink)

This essay scrutinizes certain cardinal themes of Book VI of Plato’s Republic. After a brief inquiry into, and defense of the cogency of, the preliminary methodological groundwork for the study of Platonic dialogues and their sections, the essay probes into the VIth book.

This essay scrutinizes certain cardinal themes of Book VI of Plato’s Republic. After a brief inquiry into, and defense of the cogency of, the preliminary methodological groundwork for the study of Platonic dialogues and their sections, the essay probes into the VIth book.

Ennead VI.7, the thirty-eighth treatise in order of composition, opens with a sustained attack on the idea that the form and function of various animal organs are the result of divine forethought and deliberation. In the first three chapters of the treatise, Plotinus argues that no formulation of the notion of deliberation can be made consistent with the facts about the nature of the intelligible2 and its priority over the physical world. As has been noted in the past,3 Plotinus's arguments (...) against the Platonic idea that teleological thinking is a genuine cause in the sphere of biology can also be taken, from the standpoint of his own philosophical principles, to be effective against an Aristotelian .. (shrink)

Cette édition numérique a été réalisée à partir d'un support physique, parfois ancien, conservé au sein du dépôt légal de la Bibliothèque nationale de France, conformément à la loi n° 2012-287 du 1er mars 2012 relative à l'exploitation des Livres indisponibles du XXe siècle. Pages de début Avant-Propos Introduction Avertissement concernant l'approche du Cratyle Cratyle Première partie? Du Cratyle au Sophiste I - De la justesse des noms à l'usage sensé des phrases : LES ARTICULATIONS DU CRATYLE II - La (...) crise de la Mimesis Deuxième partie? Le Sophiste Présentation I - Question de mathèmes II - L'ASSERTIF (lecture du Sophiste) III - Du non-être à la négation (suite de la lecture du Sophiste) IV - Limites et fécondité de l'analyse en histoire de la philosophie V - Du genre diviseur de la négation aux systèmes de CONNEXIONS INTERCATÉGORIALES VI - Lalogique de l'étranger Conclusion Bibliographie Pages de fin. (shrink)

1. La Ligne en République VI, 509d-511e. Bilan analytique des études, 1804-1984 -- 2. La Ligne en République VI, 509d-511e. Le texte et son histoire.