Abstract
Plato [ca. 427-347 BC], a citizen of ancient Athens wrote dialogues not only for philosophically trained readers of the Academy, a center of learning established by Plato around 387 BC, but also to interest, instruct and persuade those outside of the Academy of the value of choosing and living a morally good life. The dialogues contain both marvelous stories [mythoi] and extended arguments [logoi].
The first section of the paper considers the nature and purpose of myth and its effects on the hearer or reader. The second section describes the various argumentative techniques used in the dialogues, their purpose and effectiveness.
The concluding section shows the relation between mythos and logos, that both are needed in the pursuit of truth, and that both are necessary in persuading one to live a morally good life.
Included in
PLATO’S CHARIOTEER: ON MYTHOS AND LOGOS IN THE DIALOGUES
Plato [ca. 427-347 BC], a citizen of ancient Athens wrote dialogues not only for philosophically trained readers of the Academy, a center of learning established by Plato around 387 BC, but also to interest, instruct and persuade those outside of the Academy of the value of choosing and living a morally good life. The dialogues contain both marvelous stories [mythoi] and extended arguments [logoi].
The first section of the paper considers the nature and purpose of myth and its effects on the hearer or reader. The second section describes the various argumentative techniques used in the dialogues, their purpose and effectiveness.
The concluding section shows the relation between mythos and logos, that both are needed in the pursuit of truth, and that both are necessary in persuading one to live a morally good life.
