The Dialectic in Plato's Phaedrus: the Nature of the Method of Philosophical Inquiry

• Grant number: 13/11656-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: September 01, 2013
• End date: June 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Philosophy - History of Philosophy
• Principal Investigator: Marco Antônio de Ávila Zingano
• Grantee: Adriana Madrinan Molina
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 16/17525-7 - Plato's Phaedrus: A Theory of the Method of Philosophical Inquire., BE.EP.DR 15/06205-9 - Plato's Phaedrus: a theory of the method of philosophical inquire, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Plato´s understanding of dialectic, specially his understanding of collection and division procedures in his late dialogues, have occupied a central place among scholars´ discussions since antiquity. Although Plato introduces the notions of collection and division in the Phaedrus, most scholars have regarded the Phaedrus as a sterile ground for reflection about the method, mainly because of its variety of topics. This misleading view of the Phaedrus, I will argue, obscures Plato´s insight about dialectic contained in this dialogue. Accordingly, the aim of the present research is to argue, contra the general opinion, that the Phaedrus envisages (1) a general theory of dialectic and (2) the key for a general understanding of collection (sunagog) and division (diairesis). Therefore, the use and the commentaries about the method in late dialogues should be articulated through the correctly understanding of the account of dialectic founded in Phaedrus.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

MOLINA, Adriana Madrinan. Platos Phaedrus: dialectic as the method of philosophical inquiry. 2017. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH/SBD) São Paulo.