In 3 - A Self-Conscious Fiction

Scholars say Plato offers us clear indications that what he is giving us is highly speculative, if not outright fictional. He says the narrative of books 8 and 9 corresponds so symmetrically to books 2 and 3, it looks too perfect to be the result of objective empirical research. But we can never be 100% sure about his intentions, even if we rely on signals from him which are often self-deprecating humor in true socratic fashion.