The Ancient Quarrel Between Philosophy and Poetry Revisited : Plato and the Greek Literary Tradition

In this study, Levin explores Plato's engagement with the Greek literary tradition in his treatment of key linguistic issues. This investigation, conjoined with a new interpretation of the Republic 's familiar critique of poets, supports the view that Plato's work represents a valuable precedent for contemporary reflections on ways in which philosophy might benefit from appeals to literature.

In this study, Levin explores Plato's engagement with the Greek literary tradition in his treatment of key linguistic issues. This investigation, conjoined with a new interpretation of the Republic's familiar critique of poets, supports the view that Plato's work represents a valuable precedent for contemporary reflections on ways in which philosophy might benefit from appeals to literature.

This study argues that Plato takes the Greek literary tradition as a key locus of ideas with respect to linguistic issues in the "Cratylus", "Phaedo", and "The Republic". Writers in the literary tradition frequently articulate the descriptive content of onomata, largely proper names, by way of etymology.