Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics Plato
Feb 18, 2020
In this engaging discussion, Edith Hall, a Professor of Classics at King’s College London and expert in ancient Greek literature, delves into the complexities of Plato. She humorously reveals Plato’s imperfections, like his bad eyesight and weight, while celebrating his wrestling prowess. The conversation explores his distinctive prose and the intriguing theory of Forms using relatable examples, such as chairs. Hall also examines how societal standards of perfection, shaped by Platonic thought, impact modern self-worth and happiness.
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Plato's Animal Metaphor Anecdotes
- Cicero tells a story of bees landing on Plato's mouth as a child, predicting his eloquence.
- Antisthenes compared Plato to a frisky horse, highlighting unusual animal metaphors about him.
Socrates vs Plato in Dialogues
- It's unclear where Socrates' ideas end and Plato's begin in the dialogues.
- Early dialogues show Socrates as a nihilist questioning definitions but never giving answers.
Plato's Dialogue as Theatre
- Plato is the first great prose philosopher, using dialogues as performative, entertaining works.
- His dialogues were like theatrical performances lasting from 20 minutes to four hours.
