Platonic Patterns

Holger Thesleff

Description

Platonic Patterns is a reprint collection of many of Holger Thesleff's studies in Plato-spanning from 1967 to 2003. It includes three books, four articles and a new introduction by the author, which sets the general outline of his interpretation of Plato. Whereas much of the scholarship on Plato has tended to operate within the frame of one language and/or a single school of thought, Thesleff constructively combines several discoveries and theories (philosophical, philological and historical) of various scholars with his own research, focusing on how Plato can be understood in his own context.The work represents small but significant breakthroughs in research on Plato from an internationally inclusive standpoint. Having previously been published mainly in Finland by scholarly societies, availability outside the Nordic countries has, up until now, been minimal.Thesleff employs his singular expertise of Greek language and literature to make innovative contributions to the study and interpretation of Plato. He thematically stresses the significance of the less overt elements found in Plato's dialogues, such as Plato's use of humor and his linguistic expression, while taking into account the chronology and/or the intended audience.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie

Informations

• Publié par: Parmenides Publishing
• Date de parution: 07 avril 2009
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781930972599
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

PLATONIC PATTERNS
PLATONIC PATTERNS
A Collection of Studies by Holger Thesleff
PARMENIDES PUBLISHING Las Vegas | Zurich | Athens
2009 Parmenides Publishing All rights reserved.
The seven works in this collection, three books and four articles, were originally published as follows:
1. Studies in the Styles of Plato (Acta philosophica Fennica 20), Societas Philosophica Fennica, Helsinki: 1967 2. Studies in Platonic Chronology (Commentationes Humanarum Litterarum 70), Societas Scientiarum Fennica, Helsinki: 1982 3. Studies in Plato s Two-Level Model ( Commentationes Humanarum Litterarum 113), Societas Scientiarum Fennica, Helsinki: 1999 4. Theaitetos and Theodoros, ARCTOS, Acta Philologica Fennica XXIV (1990), 147-159 5. The Early Version of Plato s Republic, ARCTOS, Acta Philologica Fennica XXXI (1997), 149-174 6. Plato and His Public, NOCTES ATTICAE: Studies Presented to Mejer on his Sixtieth Birthday March 18, 2002, Museum Tusculanum Press, University of Copenhagen (2002), 289-301 7. A Symptomatic Text Corruption: Plato, Gorgias 448a5, ARCTOS, Acta Philologica Fennica XXXVII (2003), 251-257
This Collected Edition, with a new Introduction and Revisions, published in 2009 by Parmenides Publishing in the United States of America
ISBN: 978-1-930972-29-2
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Thesleff, Holger. [Selections. 2009] Platonic patterns : collection of studies by Holger Thesleff / Holger Thesleff. p. cm. ISBN 978-1-930972-29-2 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Plato. I. Title.. B395.T488 2009 184-dc22
2008056059
The Publisher would like to thank Professor Ilkka Niiniluoto of the Societas Philosophica Fennica, Professor Carl G. Gahmberg of the Societas Scientarum Fennica, Professor Olli Salomies of the Classical Association of Finland (Acta Philologica Fennica), and Dr. Birgitte Holten of the Museum Tusculanum Press for their kind permission to reprint the present works in this collection.
Typeset in Palatino and OdysseaUBSU (Greek) by 1106 Design Printed by Transcontinental Printing in Canada
1-888-PARMENIDES www.parmenides.com
CONTENTS
Note to the Reader
Introduction
STUDIES IN THE STYLES OF PLATO
Preface
Abbreviations
Introduction
Plato and style
Stylometry
Other studies of Plato s style
The present task
Notes on chronology and authenticity
General observations on style and styles. Remarks on methods
Technique of Composition and Dialogue Structure
General observations
A. Question and reply
Origins
Function
Technique: Variation of formulae of reply
Variation by means of expansion
Change of dialogue partner
Deliberate restriction
B. Discussion and conversation
Origins
Function
Technique: The relation of B sections to A (D) (and E) sections
Several persons joining in the conversation
C. Reported dialogue
Origins
Function
Technique: Type C in relation to A and B
Indirect report of replies
Formulae of the type said I, said he
Frame dialogue and report
D. Dialogue approximating to monologue
Origins
Function
Technique: Relation of D to A, B, and E
Stages of development
E. Monologue and continuous exposition
Origins
Function
Technique
Style Markers and Classes of Style
General observations
Colloquial style
Semi-literary conversational style
Rhetorical style
Pathetic ( affected ) style
Intellectual style
Mythic narrative style
Historical style
Ceremonious style
Legal style
Onkos style
Lists of style markers
Stylistic Analyses
Analysis of the Republic
Conclusions regarding R.
Stylistic conspectus of the rest of the authentic works
Hippias Minor
Ion
Laches
Crito
Apologia
Menexenus
Gorgias
Meno
Euthyphro
Cratylus
Lysis
Charmides
Protagoras
Euthydemus
Phaedo
Symposium
Parmenides
Theaetetus
Phaedrus
Timaeus
Critias
Sophistes
Politicus
Philebus
Epistula 7
Leges
Epinomis
Notes on the dubia and spuria
Conclusions
Observations on the relation of style to the formal structure of the dialogues
Observations on the function of style for characterization of the speakers
Observations on the relation of style to the contents
Observations on the rise of Plato s so-called late style
Various concluding observations
STUDIES IN PLATONIC CHRONOLOGY
Preface
PART I The Platonic Question
Introductory notes
Some trends
Conspectus of chronologies suggested
Critical Comments
Preliminary remarks
External criteria: Biographical problems relating to Plato s youth
The Megarian hypothesis
The Corinthian war
The first voyage outside Greece
Theory of Parmentier
Allusions by Plato to his contemporaries, and vice versa
The pamphlet of Polycrates
The Academy
Plato and Isocrates
Plato and Xenophon
Plato and Aeschines of Sphettus
Plato and Antisthenes
Plato and Comedy
Other contemporary persons
The second voyage to Sicily
The third voyage to Sicily
Various references to contemporary events in Plato s works
Plato and Aristotle
Death of Plato
References from one Platonic work to another
Ancient testimony regarding the publication of Plato s writings
Arguments from the contents
Literary criteria; dialogue technique
Linguistic criteria; stylometry
Test I
Test II
Test III
Revision
Problems of authenticity
PART II A New Model
The 390s
The problem of the early Republic
Introductory
The Proto- Republic
The separation of Republic I
The Apology
Additional considerations; Isocrates XIII
The Reported Dialogues and Gorgias, Menexenus and Theaetetus
General arguments for establishing a hypothetical order
Further arguments; introductory notes on the method
Gorgias
Menexenus
Protagoras
Symposium
The Respublica Rediviva
Phaedo
Euthydemus
Lysis
Charmides
Theaetetus
Parmenides
The Rise of the Dramatic Dialogue
Introductory
Gorgias
Meno
Cratylus
Phaedrus
The adding of dramatic frame dialogues
Plato s Late Period
Introductory
The completing of the Republic
The early portions of the Laws
Theaetetus and Parmenides
Timaeus and Critias
The Sophist and Politicus
Philebus
The Seventh Letter
On the Good
The completing of the Laws
Epinomis
Dubia and Spuria and Semi-authenticity
Introductory
Clitopho
Crito
Laches
The First Alcibiades
Theages
Amatores
Eryxias
Hippias Minor
Ion
Euthyphro
Hippias Major
Hipparchus
Minos
Sisyphus
Demodocus
De Virtute and De Justo
Definitiones
The Second Alcibiades
Halcyon
Axiochus
Letters
A Concluding Chronological Sketch
STUDIES IN PLATO S TWO-LEVEL MODEL
Preface
Introductory Remarks
Problems
The present approach
Who Speaks for Plato?
General Notes On Contrasts
Generally human and Greek attitudes
Two-level contrasts
Pairs of Asymmetric Contrasts
Not two worlds
Compare divine / human
Ten illustrative pairs in the earlier dialogues
Divine / human
Soul / body
Leading / being led
Truth / appearance
Knowledge / opinion
Intellect / senses
Defined / undefined
Stability / change
One / many
Same / different
Two Levels
Other examples
Two levels-and a third?
The two principal levels and their background in Greek thought
Characteristics of this vision
Orientation
Eros
The Divided Line
A philosopher s vision
Bridging the contrasts
Examples of the function of the model
Protagoras
Charmides
The First Alcibiades
Apology
Hippias Minor
The early Utopia
Some general arguments
On Polar Opposites in Plato
Opposites and two-level contrasts
Examples: Gorgias
Republic
Lysis
Euthydemus
Phaedo
Opposites
Forms and opposites
On Ideas and Forms
The secondary status of the theory of Forms
Notes on the terminology
Forms in general
Pre-Platonic background
Shape rather than class
Ideas
Ideas as values
Examples of Ideas of the type
Presence, participation
and the two levels
Ideas as such and as the focus of orientation
Notes on the interrelationship of the levels
Neutral and negative Ideas and Forms
Forms treated as Ideas
Artifacts
Ideas or Forms for opposites?
A unique Idea versus innumerable Forms
Forms as types or kinds
Kinds in arts and crafts
Forms as kinds in two-way dialectic
Kinds gradually more common?
Retrospect and partial conclusions
Ideas, Forms as concepts, Forms as kinds
The Divided Line and Ideas, Forms, and Phenomena
Few and unique Ideas
Forms and Categories
The impact of younger associates
The interrelation of Ideas and Kinds
Parmenides and new perspectives
Two-level categories in the Sophist
Categories versus Ideas and Forms
Politicus
Categories and the Soul
Theaetetus
Phaedrus
The World Soul in Timaeus and Laws X
Human soul in Timaeus
Anamnesis
Categories elsewhere
Cratylus and Republic IV
Philebus and
Concluding remarks on Categories
Forms, Categories, First Principles
The Principles as Categories
An authentically Platonic theory?
Notes on the sources
The Principles and the two levels
Principles and Categories
Principles and Ideal Numbers
Principles and Ideas
A reduction of the Categories to mathematical concepts
Principles as Causes?
The relation of the First Principles to Categories, Forms, and Ideas
The status and chronology of the theory
On the Good
A late and tentative theory
An episode?
Notes on Chronology
The coherence of the Corpus
Problems with a refined analysis
Eros
Soul
True Being
Senses
Definition
Forms and Categories as Criteria
Forms and Ideas
Terms
Categories
Can chronological conclusions be drawn?
Summary and Conclusions
ARTICLES
Theaitetos and Theodoros
The Early Version of Plato s Republic
Plato and His Public
A Symptomatic Text Corruption: Plato, Gorgias 448a5
Bibliography
NOTE TO THE READER
The present volume is a collection of seven works-three books and four articles- that were pr