Rhetoric And Reality In Plato's Phaedrus (suny Series In Ancient Greek Philosophy)

The Phaedrus is well-known for the splendid mythical panorama Socrates develops in his second speech, and for its graphic descriptions of erotic behavior. This book shows how the details of the myth and the accounts of interaction between lovers are based on a carefully articulated metaphysical structure. It follows the dialogue as narrated, showing how passages that may not appear relevant to metaphysics have been deployed to heighten the vision of reality that Socrates develops in his second speech and concludes with an Epilogue in which the metaphysical principles adumbrated in the dialogue are ordered and briefly developed. This Epilogue helps illustrate the continuity between the Phaedrus and subsequent dialogues, such as the Parmenides, Sophist, Statesman, and Philebus, in which methodological and metaphysical concerns are dominant for Plato. As a result, new connections emerge between the metaphysical domain in Plato's thought and the more visible and vibrant areas of the psychology of eros and practical rhetoric.David A. White is the author of Heidegger and the Language of Poetry; The Grand Continuum: Reflections on Joyce and Metaphysics; Logic and Ontology in Heidegger; The Turning Wheel: A Study of Contracts and Oaths in Wagner's Ring; and Myth and Metaphysics in Plato's Phaedo. Rhetoric and Reality in Plato's Phaedrus Brief Contents Expanded Contents Acknowledgement Introduction Principles of Interpretation I II Chapter 1 Myth and Rhetorical Inspiration (227a-237b) Leisure and Love Socrates and Phaedrus The Problem of Mythic Explanation Socrates and the Possibility of Self-knowledge Beauty and the Nourishment of Discourses The Speech of Lysias The Conditions of Praiseworthy Discourse The Inspiration of Socrates The Premise of Socrates' First Speech Phaedrus' Threat and the Socratic Character Chapter 2 Socrates' First Speech (237b-244a) Socrates' First Speech—Invocation Rhetorical Setting Argument and Definition Division Between Lover and Nonlover Desire and Predication A Definition of Love Socrates and the Inspiration of Madness The Speech Continued Beloved and Intellect Beloved and Pleasure Reversal of Lover and Beloved Socrates and Poetic Possession Socrates and Truth Phaedrus and the Propagation of Discourse Socrates the Seer The Need for Recantation Shame and Recantation The Audience for the Palinode Remark Chapter 3 The Metaphysics of Madness and the Nature of Soul (244a-247c) The Human Origin of the Palinode The Metaphysical Origin The Madness of Prophecy The Madness of Purification The Madness of Poetry The Metaphysics of Madness Substantive Formal Wisdom and Nature The Nature of Soul—Self-motion The Form of Soul The Powers of Soul Soul and the Good Mortality and Immortality The Nature of Soul's Wings The Divine Ascent to Reality Chapter 4 Soul and Truth (247c-250d) Poetry and Truth Reality and Divine Soul Reality and Human Soul Destiny and Fallen Soul The Afterlife of Human Soul Recollection: The One and the Many Madness and Participation Metaphysics and Mystery Mystery and the Good Completeness Simplicity Fixity Happiness Chapter 5 Beauty and the Capture of the Beloved (250d-257b) Beauty and Wisdom The Vision of Beauty The Experience of Beauty The Poetic Vision of Love The Divine and the Choice of Beloved Love and Participation in Divinity The Education of the Beloved The Happiness of Love The Form of the Horses The Vision of the Beloved Beauty and Memory The Training of the Evil Horse Love and the Good Love and Desire Love and Friendship Love and Philosophy The Blessings of Friendship The Socratic Recantation: Summary Chapter 6 Rhetoric and Truth (257b-262c) The Unity of the Phaedrus Writing and the Love of Honor The Problem of Writing The Story of the Cicadas The Birth of the Muses The Muses and Philosophical Inspiration Rhetoric and Truth The Challenge of Opinion The Art of Speaking: Rejoinder and Criticism The Definition and Scope of Rhetoric Rhetoric and Opposition Rhetoric and Truth Chapter 7 Rhetoric and Dialectic (262c-266d) The Synoptic Perspective Truth and Inspiration The Art of Rhetoric: Agreement and Division Definition and Inspiration The Critique of Lysias' Speech Socrates' Speeches: Recapitulation and Madness The Art of Rhetoric: Principles and Definition Collection and Division Division and Nature Socrates—the Lover of Method Love and the Unity of the Phaedrus Chapter 8 Nature and the Art of Writing (266d-274b) The History of Rhetoric Art and the Preliminaries of Rhetoric Art and Nature Nature and Totality The Structure of Nature Teaching the Art of Rhetoric Practicing the Art of Rhetoric Probability and the Good Chapter 9 Writing and Wisdom (274b-279c) The Problem of Writing The Prophecy of Thamos The Character of Writing The Gardens of Letters Lysias Revisited The Need for Method The Propriety of Writing The Legacy of Composition Socrates Prophesies The Prayer of Socrates Concluding Comment Epilogue Method and Metaphysics in the Phaedrus Collection Division and Nature Nature The Range of Nature Nature and the Forms Simplicity and Complexity Active and Passive Nature and Totality Nature and Division Notes Introduction Chapter 1 (227a-237b) Chapter 2 (237b-244a) Chapter 3 (244a-247c) Chapter 4 (247c-250d) Chapter 5 (250d-257b) Chapter 6 (257b-262c) Chapter 7 (262c-266d) Chapter 8 (266d-274b) Chapter 9 (274b-279c) Epilogue Bibliography Editions of and Commentaries on the Phaedrus Books on themes treated in the Phaedrus Articles on the Phaedrus or on issues discussed in the Phaedrus Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Z The Phaedrus Is Well-known For The Splendid Mythical Panorama Socrates Develops In His Second Speech, And For Its Graphic Descriptions Of Erotic Behavior. This Book Shows How The Details Of The Myth And The Accounts Of Interaction Between Lovers Are Based On A Carefully Articulated Metaphysical Structure. It Follows The Dialogue As Narrated, Showing How Passages That May Not Appear Relevant To Metaphysics Have Been Deployed To Heighten The Vision Of Reality That Socrates Develops In His Second Speech And Concludes With An Epilogue In Which The Metaphysical Principles Adumbrated In The Dialogue Are Ordered And Briefly Developed. This Epilogue Helps Illustrate The Continuity Between The Phaedrus And Subsequent Dialogues, Such As The Parmenides, Sophist, Statesman, And Philebus, In Which Methodological And Metaphysical Concerns Are Dominant For Plato. As A Result, New Connections Emerge Between The Metaphysical Domain In Plato's Thought And The More Visible And Vibrant Areas Of The Psychology Of Eros And Practical Rhetoric. -- Back Cover. Myth And Rhetorical Inspiration --- Socrates' First Speech --- The Metaphysics Of Madness And The Nature Of Soul --- Soul And Truth --- Beauty And The Capture Of The Beloved --- Rhetoric And Truth --- Rhetoric And Dialectic --- Nature And The Art Of Writing --- Writing And Wisdom --- Method And Metaphysics In The Phaedrus. David A. White. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 319-330) And Index. David A. White is the author of Heidegger and the Language of Poetry; The Grand Reflections on Joyce and Metaphysics; Logic and Ontology in Heidegger; The Turning A Study of Contracts and Oaths in Wagner's Ring ; and Myth and Metaphysics in Plato's Phaedo .