Thomas R. Martin, An Overview of Classical Greek History from Mycenae to Alexander, New Directions in Philosophy and Education, The Dialogues of Plato

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Introduction to the Historical Overview in Perseus Geographical and Historical Introduction The Early Greek Dark Age and Revival in the Near East Remaking Greek Civilization The Archaic Age The Late Archaic City-State Introduction to the Fifth Century Clash Between Greeks and Persians Athenian Empire in the Golden Age Athenian Religious and Cultural Life in the Golden Age Continuity and Change in Athenian Social and Intellectual History The Peloponnesian War and Athenian Life Introduction to the Fourth Century The Aftermath of the Peloponnesian War New Directions in Philosophy and Education The Creation of Macedonian Power

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The Life of Plato Plato's Academy The Dialogues of Plato Platonic Doctrines Platonic Forms The Platonic Demiurge Plato's Republic Guardians in the Republic Philosophy and Life Aristotle, Scientist and Philosopher Aristotle's Interests Aristotle's Methods Aristotle's Teleology Aristotle on Slaves and Women Aristotle on Just Behavior Aristotle on Human Happiness Practical Education and Rhetoric Isocrates on Rhetoric Isocrates on Panhellenism

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The Dialogues of Plato

Plato¹ did not write philosophical treatises in the abstract fashion familiar from more recent times but rather composed works called dialogues from their form as conversations or reported conversations. Almost as if they were short plays, the dialogues have settings² and casts of conversationalists (often including Socrates), who talk about philosophical issues. Divorcing the philosophical content of a Platonic dialogue from its literary form is no doubt a mistaken approach; a dialogue of Plato demands to be taken as a whole. The dialogues were meant to provoke readers into thoughtful reflection rather than to spoon-feed them a circumscribed set of doctrines.

1 Perseus Encyclopedia entry for Plato, Plat. L. 7.325

2 Plat. Euthyph.

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