Reading Plato

This excerpt from the dialogue The Phaedrus is only about 5 pages long but it is quite dense.  This is partly because Socrates (as represented by Plato’s writing) speaks in long sentences, sometimes using questions and sometimes using periodic sentences.  We’ll work on ways to sort out and rephrase what he’s saying in class.

In the meantime, and perhaps as part of your response, consider the following:

• There are actually four speakers here since Socrates relates a conversation between Theuth and Thamus. Sort out who says what, especially in the story of the invention of writing.
• What role does Phaedrus play in the dialogue?
• Is the fact that this is a dialogue important?
• In the story of the invention of writing, Theuth calls writing a ‘specific.’ Specific is an obsolete or archaic word meaning remedy or medicine.* (Jowett’s translation was published around 1871.)  The Greek word is “pharmakon” and also has been translated in this part of the Phaedrus as recipe, potion, or drug.  What difference does that word make? What significance would other translations have?
• Socrates compares writing to painting. Why? Does it seem like a valid comparison?
• Socrates also compares writing to two different kinds of farming or gardening.  What exactly is the comparison here? (And if that’s a tough questions--don’t worry, we’ll be working it out in class, too!)
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  Where does Socrates understand knowledge to exist?  How does that compare with your own understanding of what knowledge is and where it exists?

*From the OED:  specific, n. 3a. Med. Of remedies, etc.: Specially or exclusively efficacious for, or acting upon, a particular ailment or part of the body.

Useful Resources.  Sign into the OU Library homepage  and check out the OED,  THE best online dictionary and Gale Virutal Reference which has articles about almost everything.