Philosophy

Petra Schmidt-Wiborg

Dialektik in Platons 'Philebos'

[Dialectic in Plato's Philebus.]

2005. VIII, 375 pages.

Philosophische Untersuchungen 13

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ISBN 978-3-16-148586-2
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Published in German.
This interpretation of the Philebus illustrates the conceptual framework which defined Plato's understanding of dialectic. The discussions in the Philebus which are of a general nature show that Plato was concerned with the idea that the structure of thinking could hardly be conceived of as a way to obtain true knowledge of all things, which is a requirement of philosophy. Nevertheless, Plato believed in philosophy in the sense that in his view philosophy was able to produce a real dialectical representation of everything.
This interpretation of the Philebus illustrates the conceptual framework which defined Plato's understanding of dialectic. The discussions in the Philebus which are of a general nature show that Plato was concerned with the idea that the structure of thinking could hardly be conceived of as a way to obtain true knowledge of all things, which is a requirement of philosophy. Nevertheless, Plato believed in philosophy in the sense that in his view philosophy was able to produce a real dialectical representation of everything. He argues that within this representation there is a kind of reason which unifies our knowledge and which can also unite the entire universe as well as our reasoning and actions. However since Plato assumes a reason which he sees as a cause and a teleological determination at the same time, it is clear that his conception has become the victim of difficulties that dialectic is actually supposed to resolve.
Authors/Editors

Petra Schmidt-Wiborg Geboren 1967; Studium der Philosophie und der Griechischen und Lateinischen Altphilologie in Villanova, Pa., (USA) und Tübingen; 2004 Promotion; freie Publizistin und Honorardozentin für Wissenschaftstheorie an der Charité in Berlin.

Reviews

The following reviews are known:

In: Freiburger Zeitschr.f.Phil.u.Theol. — Bd.52 (2005), H.3, S.802f (M. Colloud-Streit)
In: Anuario Filosofico — 39 (2006), S. 560 (Nur Bibliographie)
In: Dialogo Filosofico — Jg.22 (2006), H.1, S.158f