This work on the role of literary form in Plato's
dialogues is in response to the problem set by different
approaches to an understanding of Platonic thought. The
traditional approach to the study of Plato attempts to
separate literary form, considered an irrelevant element,
from philosophic content. A second kind of approach views
each dialogue as a dramatic whole. Here, philosophic content
is one component of the whole and literary form is considered
to be of primary importance. A third approach attempts to
give equal consideration to literary form and philosophic
content.
In this thesis, I examine the role of literary form
in the Phaedrus in Chapter Two and in the Republic in Chapter
Three. In Chapter Four, general patterns of form
recognizable in the Euthyphro and the Philebus are assessed.
My claim is that full access to an understanding of Plato is
achieved only when both aspects, form and content, are
recognized as integral aspects of the whole. I argue that
literary form is an integral element in the totality of
Plato's thought. / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/15740 |
| Date | 06 1900 |
| Creators | Houlding , Joan |
| Contributors | Najm, Sami M., Philosophy |
| Source Sets | McMaster University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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