3; Au-
other hand see Niebuhr, Kleine historische Schriften, gust.
other hand see Niebuhr, Kleine historische Schriften, gust.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - c
) and others, no traces are
§ 17), at the close of his life he praised that dis- to be found (comp. Hermann, loc. i. 55, &c. ).
pensation which had made him a contemporary of That Plato during his residence in Sicily, throngh
Socrates. After the death of the latter be betook the intervention of Dion, became acquainted with
himself, with others of the Socratics, as Hermo- the elder Dionysius, but very soon fell out with
dorus had related, in order to avoid threatened the tyrant, is asserted by credible witnesses (espe-
persecutions (Diog. Laërt. ii. 106, ii. 6), to Eu- cially by Hegesander ap. Athen. xi. 116, p. 507,
cleides at Megara, who of all his contemporaries b; Diod. xv. 7; Plut. Dion, 4, 5; Diog. Laërt.
had the nearest mental affinity with him. That iii. 18, 19. The Platonic epistle vii. pp. 324, 326,
Plato during his residence in Megara composed 327, mentions only the acquaintance with Dion,
several of his dialogues, especially those of a dia- not that with the elder Dionysius). More doubt
lectical character, is probable enough, though there attaches to the story, according to which he was
is no direct evidence on the subject (Ast, rom given up by the tyrant to the Spartan ambassador
Leben und den Scriften des Plato, p. 51 ; Van Pollis, by him sold into Aegina, and set at liberty
Heusde, Init. Plat. doct. i. p. 72; Hermann, ibid. by the Cyrenian Anniceris. This story is told in
pp. 46, 490). The communication of the Socratic very different forms. On the other hand, we find
conversation recorded in the Theaetetus is referred the statement that Plato came to Sicily when about
to Eucleides, and the controversial examination, forty years old, so that he would have returned to
contained in the Sophistes (p. 246) and apparently Athens at the close of the 97th Olympiad (B. C.
directed against Eucleides and his school, of the 389 or 388), about twelve years after the death of
tenets of the friends of certain incorporeal forms Socrates ; and perhaps for that reason Ol. 97. 4,
(ideas) cognisable by the intellect, testifies esteem was set down by the chronologers whom Eusebius
for him. Friendship for the mathematician Theo- follows as the period when he flourished. After
dorus (though this indeed does not manifest bis return he began to teach, partly in the gymna-
itself in the way in which the latter is introduced sium of the Academy and its shady avenues,
in the Theaetetus) is said to have led Plato next to near the city, between the exterior Cerameicus and
Cyrene (Diog. Laërt, iii. 6 ; Appul. l. c. ). Through the hill Colonus Hippius, partly in his garden,
his eagemess for knowledge he is said to have which was situated at Colonus (Timon ap. Diog.
been induced to visit Egypt, Sicily, and the Greek Laërt. iii. 7, comp. 5 ; Plut. de Exilio, c. 10, &c. ).
cities in Lower Italy (Cic. de Rep. i. 10, de Fin. Respecting the acquisition of this garden again,
and the circumstances of Plato as regards property
Hermogenes is mentioned as the Eleatic generally, we have conflicting accounts (Plut. Diog.
teacher of Plato, probably through a misunder- Laërt. Appul. I. cc. ; A. Gell. N. A. iii. 17,
standing of the mention of him in the Cratylus, comp. Hermann, 1. c. p. 77, &c. ). Plato taught
pp. 384, 394 ; in the anonymous writer, Hermippus gratuitously (Diog. Laërt. iv. 2 ; Olympiod. et
is named with hardly better reason.
Anon. ), and agreeably to his maximis (Phaed. p.
>
## p. 394 (#410) ############################################
394
PLATO.
PLATO.
"
22
CS
275, Prolag. pp. 329, 334, Gorg. p. 449, comp. iii. 21), and which finds some confirmation in ex-
Hipp. Min. p. 373), without doubt mainly in the pressions of the philosopher himself, and of the
form of lively dialogue ; yet on the more difficult seventh letter, which though spurious is written
parts of his doctrinal system he probably also deli- with the most evident acquaintance with the mat-
vered connected lectures ; at least in the accounts ters treated of (p. 327, e ; comp. Hermann, l. c.
of his lectures, noted down by Aristotle and other p. 66, &c. ). If however Plato had suffered himself
disciples, on the Good (sce below) there appears no to be deceived by such a hope, and if, as we are
trace of the form of dialogue. Theinistius also told, he withdrew himself from all participation in
(Orat. xxi. p. 245, d) represents him as delivering the public affairs of Athens, from despair with re-
a lecture on the Good in the Peiraeeus before an gard to the destinies of his native city, noble even
audience which gradually dwindled away. The in her decline, he would indeed have exhibited a
more narrow circle of his disciples (the number of blind partiality for a theory which was too far
them, which can scarcely have remained uniform, removed from existing institutions, and have at the
is stated at 28) assembled themselves in his gar- same time displayed a want of statesmanlike feel-
den at common, simple meals (Athen. i. 7, xii. 69, ing and perception. He did not comply with the
x. 14, comp. Aelian, V. H. ii
. 18, iii. 35; Diog. invitations of Cyrene and Megalopolis, which had
Laërt. ii. 8), and it was probably to them alone been newly founded by the Arcadians and The-
that the inscription said to have been set up over bans, to arrange their constitution and laws (Plut.
the vestibule of the house, “ let no one enter who ad princ. inerud. c. 1 ; Diog. Laërt. iii. 23 ; Aelian.
is unacquainted with geometry," had reference v. H. ii. 42). And in truth the vocation assigned
(Tzetzes, Chiliad. viii. 972). From this house him by God was more that of founding the science
came forth his nephew Speusippus, Xenocrates of of politics by means of moral principles than of
Chalcedon, Aristotle, Heracleides Ponticus, Hes practising it in the struggle with existing relations.
tiaeus of Perinthus, Philippus the Opuntian, and From the time when he opened the school in the
others, men from the most different parts of Greece. Academy (it was only during his second and third
To the wider circle of those who, without attaching journeys to Sicily that one of his more intimate
themselves to the more narrow community of the companions- Heracleides Ponticus is named -
school, sought instruction and incitement from him, had to supply his place, Suid. s. v. Heracleid. ) we
distinguished men of the age, such as Chabrias, find him occupied solely in giving instruction and
Iphicrates (Aristid. ii. p. 325), Timotheus (Athen. in the composition of his works. He is said to
x. 14, comp. Aelian. V. H. ii. 18. § 10 ; Plut. de have died while writing in the 8lst, or according
Sanit. tuenda, p. 127. 6), Phocion, Hyperides, Ly- to others the 84th year of his age, in Ol. 108. 1,
curgus, Isocrates (Diog. Laërt. iii. 46), are said to B. C. 347 (Cic. de Senect. 5; Senec. Epist. Iviii. ;
have belonged. Whether Demosthenes was of the Neanthes in Diog. Laërt. iii. 3 ; Diog. Laërt. v. 9 ;
number is doubtful (Dem. Epist. v. ; Cic. de Orat. Athen. v. p. 57, &c. ). According to Hermippus he
i. 20, Brut. 32, Orat. 5, de Offic. i. ), &c. ; on the died at a marriage feast (Diog. Laërt. iii.
3; Au-
other hand see Niebuhr, Kleine historische Schriften, gust. de Civ. Dei, viii. 2). Thence probably arose
p. 482 ; Bake, Biblioth. Crit. Nova, v. ). 194, &c. ). the title of the éloge of Speusippus --HASTWvoS
Even women are said to have attached themselves to Trepidectvov. According to his last will his garden
him as his disciples (Diog. Laërt. I. c. , comp. Olym- remained the property of the school (Diog. Laërt.
piod. ). Plato's occupation as an instructor was ii. 43), and passed, considerably increased by later
twice interrupted by journeys undertaken to Sicily ; additions, into the hands of the Neo-Platonists,
first when Dion, probably soon after the death of who kept as a festival his birth-day as well as that
the elder Dionysius (01. 103. 1, B. C. 368), deter- of Socrates (Damasc. ap. Phot. Cod. ccxlii. ; Por-
mined him to make the attempt to win the younger phyr. ap. Euseb. Praep. Evang. x. 3, p. 468).
Dionysius to philosophy (Plat. Epist. vii. p. 327, Athenians and strangers honoured his memory by
iii. p. 316, c; Plut. Dion, c. ll, &c. 16, &c. , monuments (Diog. Laërt. iii. 43 ; Pharorin. ib. 25).
Philosoph. esse cum Princip. c. 4 ; Corn. Nep. x. 3; Yet he had no lack of enemies and enviers, and
Diog. Laërt. iii. 21); the second time, a few years the attacks which were made upon him with scoffs
later (about B. c. 361), when the wish of his Pytha- and ridicule, partly by contemporary comic poets, as
gorean friends, and the invitation of Dionysius to Theopompus, Alexis, Cratinus the younger, and
reconcile the disputes which had broken out shortly others (Diog. Laërt. iii. 26, &c. ; Athen. xi. p. 509,
after Plato's departure between him and his step- ii. p. 59), partly by one-sided Socratics, as Antis-
uncle Dion, brought him back to Syracuse. His thenes, Diogenes, and the later Megarics (Diog.
efforts were both times unsuccessful, and he owed Laërt. iii. 35, vi. 7, 26, ii. 119; comp. Schleierma-
his own safety to nothing but the earnest inter- cher's Platon, ii. 1, pp. 19, 183, 404, 406 ; ii. 2, pp.
cession of Archytas (Plat. Epist. vii. pp. 339, 345, 17, 20), found a loud echo among Epicureans,
ji. p. 318 ; Plut. Dion, c. 20 ; Diog. Laërt. iii. 25). Stoics, certain Peripatetics, and later writers eager
Immediately after his return, Dion, whom he found for detraction. Thus even Antisthenes and Aris-
at the Olympic games (Ol. 105. 1, B. C. 360), pre- toxenus (Diog. Laërt. iii. 35; Athen. v. p. 424, xi.
dared for the contest, attacked Syracuse, and, sup- p. 507; Mahne, de Aristoceno, pp. 14, 73, 91)
ported by Speusippus and other friends of Plato, charged him with sensuality, avarice, and syco-
though not by Plato himself, drove out the tyrant, phancy (Diog. Laërt. iii. 29; Athen. xi. p. 509, S,
but was then himself assassinated ; upon which xiii. p. 589, c); and others with vanity, ambition,
Dionysius again made himself master of the govern- and envy towards other Socratics (Athen. xi. p.
ment (Plat. Ep. ; Plut. I. cc. ; Diog. Laërt. iii
. 25). 507, d ; Diog. Laërt. vi. 3, 7, 24, 26, 34 ; comp. A.
That Plato cherished the hope of realising through Böckh, Commentat. Acad. de Simultate
the conversion of Dionysius his idea of a state in cum Xenophonte intercessisse fertur, Berol. 1811).
the rising city of Syracuse, was a belief pretty Others again accused him of having borrowed the
generally spread in antiquity (Plut. Philos. e. princ. form and substance of his doctrine from earlier
c. 4; Theunist. Orat. xvii. p. 215, b; Diog. Laërt. philosophers, as Aristippus, Antisthenes (Theo
US
quae Platoni
W W
## p. 395 (#411) ############################################
PLATO.
395
PLATO.
as
pomp. ap. Athen. xi. p. 508, c), Protagoras (Diog. | anatreptically); as also dialogues which communi-
Laërt
. iii
. 37), Epicharmus (Alcimus ap. Diog. Laërt cated instruction theoretically (physically or logi-
iï. 9, &c. ), Philolaus (Diog. Laërt. iii. 9). But as cally), and practically (ethically or politically).
the latter accusation is refuted both by the contra- (Diog. Laërt. iii. 49; Albin. Isag. 128. ) With
diction which it carries in itself, and by comparison regard to the second point, attention was espe-
of the Pythagorean doctrine with that of Plato, 60 cially directed to the dramatic character of ihe
is the former, not only by the weakness of the dialogues, and, according to it, the Alexandrian
evidence brought forward in its favour, but still grammarian Aristophanes of Byzantium arranged
more by the depth and purity of moral sentiment, a part of them together in trilogies_(Sophistes,
which, with all the marks of internal truth, is re- Politicus, Cratylus Theaetetus, Euthyphron,
flected in the writings of Plato.
Apology — Politeia, Timaeus, Critias- the Laws,
Minos, Epinomis — Criton, Phaedon, Letters),
II. THE WRITINGS OF PLATO.
the rest he left unarranged, though on what
These writings, by a happy destiny, have come grounds he was led to do so it is not easy to
down to us complete, so far as appears, in texts com- discover. Thrasylus, in the age of Tiberius, with
paratively well preserved, and have always been reference to the above-named division into inves-
admired as a model of the union of artistic perfection tigating and instructing dialogues, divided the
with philosophical acuteness and depth. Plato was whole number into tetralogies, probably because
by no means the first to attempt the form of dialogue. Plato had given intimation of his intention to add
Zeno the Eleatic had already written in the form a conclusion to the dialogues Theaetetus,
of question and answer (Diog. Laërt. iii. 48; comp. Sophistes, and Politicus, one called Philosophus,
Arist. Elench. Soph. 10). Alexamenus the Teian and to the trilogy of the Politeia, Timaeus, and
and Sophron in the mimes had treated ethical Critias, the Hermocrates (Plat. Politic. p. 257, a.
subjects in the form of dialogue (Diog. Laërt. Critias, p. 108, a. c.
§ 17), at the close of his life he praised that dis- to be found (comp. Hermann, loc. i. 55, &c. ).
pensation which had made him a contemporary of That Plato during his residence in Sicily, throngh
Socrates. After the death of the latter be betook the intervention of Dion, became acquainted with
himself, with others of the Socratics, as Hermo- the elder Dionysius, but very soon fell out with
dorus had related, in order to avoid threatened the tyrant, is asserted by credible witnesses (espe-
persecutions (Diog. Laërt. ii. 106, ii. 6), to Eu- cially by Hegesander ap. Athen. xi. 116, p. 507,
cleides at Megara, who of all his contemporaries b; Diod. xv. 7; Plut. Dion, 4, 5; Diog. Laërt.
had the nearest mental affinity with him. That iii. 18, 19. The Platonic epistle vii. pp. 324, 326,
Plato during his residence in Megara composed 327, mentions only the acquaintance with Dion,
several of his dialogues, especially those of a dia- not that with the elder Dionysius). More doubt
lectical character, is probable enough, though there attaches to the story, according to which he was
is no direct evidence on the subject (Ast, rom given up by the tyrant to the Spartan ambassador
Leben und den Scriften des Plato, p. 51 ; Van Pollis, by him sold into Aegina, and set at liberty
Heusde, Init. Plat. doct. i. p. 72; Hermann, ibid. by the Cyrenian Anniceris. This story is told in
pp. 46, 490). The communication of the Socratic very different forms. On the other hand, we find
conversation recorded in the Theaetetus is referred the statement that Plato came to Sicily when about
to Eucleides, and the controversial examination, forty years old, so that he would have returned to
contained in the Sophistes (p. 246) and apparently Athens at the close of the 97th Olympiad (B. C.
directed against Eucleides and his school, of the 389 or 388), about twelve years after the death of
tenets of the friends of certain incorporeal forms Socrates ; and perhaps for that reason Ol. 97. 4,
(ideas) cognisable by the intellect, testifies esteem was set down by the chronologers whom Eusebius
for him. Friendship for the mathematician Theo- follows as the period when he flourished. After
dorus (though this indeed does not manifest bis return he began to teach, partly in the gymna-
itself in the way in which the latter is introduced sium of the Academy and its shady avenues,
in the Theaetetus) is said to have led Plato next to near the city, between the exterior Cerameicus and
Cyrene (Diog. Laërt, iii. 6 ; Appul. l. c. ). Through the hill Colonus Hippius, partly in his garden,
his eagemess for knowledge he is said to have which was situated at Colonus (Timon ap. Diog.
been induced to visit Egypt, Sicily, and the Greek Laërt. iii. 7, comp. 5 ; Plut. de Exilio, c. 10, &c. ).
cities in Lower Italy (Cic. de Rep. i. 10, de Fin. Respecting the acquisition of this garden again,
and the circumstances of Plato as regards property
Hermogenes is mentioned as the Eleatic generally, we have conflicting accounts (Plut. Diog.
teacher of Plato, probably through a misunder- Laërt. Appul. I. cc. ; A. Gell. N. A. iii. 17,
standing of the mention of him in the Cratylus, comp. Hermann, 1. c. p. 77, &c. ). Plato taught
pp. 384, 394 ; in the anonymous writer, Hermippus gratuitously (Diog. Laërt. iv. 2 ; Olympiod. et
is named with hardly better reason.
Anon. ), and agreeably to his maximis (Phaed. p.
>
## p. 394 (#410) ############################################
394
PLATO.
PLATO.
"
22
CS
275, Prolag. pp. 329, 334, Gorg. p. 449, comp. iii. 21), and which finds some confirmation in ex-
Hipp. Min. p. 373), without doubt mainly in the pressions of the philosopher himself, and of the
form of lively dialogue ; yet on the more difficult seventh letter, which though spurious is written
parts of his doctrinal system he probably also deli- with the most evident acquaintance with the mat-
vered connected lectures ; at least in the accounts ters treated of (p. 327, e ; comp. Hermann, l. c.
of his lectures, noted down by Aristotle and other p. 66, &c. ). If however Plato had suffered himself
disciples, on the Good (sce below) there appears no to be deceived by such a hope, and if, as we are
trace of the form of dialogue. Theinistius also told, he withdrew himself from all participation in
(Orat. xxi. p. 245, d) represents him as delivering the public affairs of Athens, from despair with re-
a lecture on the Good in the Peiraeeus before an gard to the destinies of his native city, noble even
audience which gradually dwindled away. The in her decline, he would indeed have exhibited a
more narrow circle of his disciples (the number of blind partiality for a theory which was too far
them, which can scarcely have remained uniform, removed from existing institutions, and have at the
is stated at 28) assembled themselves in his gar- same time displayed a want of statesmanlike feel-
den at common, simple meals (Athen. i. 7, xii. 69, ing and perception. He did not comply with the
x. 14, comp. Aelian, V. H. ii
. 18, iii. 35; Diog. invitations of Cyrene and Megalopolis, which had
Laërt. ii. 8), and it was probably to them alone been newly founded by the Arcadians and The-
that the inscription said to have been set up over bans, to arrange their constitution and laws (Plut.
the vestibule of the house, “ let no one enter who ad princ. inerud. c. 1 ; Diog. Laërt. iii. 23 ; Aelian.
is unacquainted with geometry," had reference v. H. ii. 42). And in truth the vocation assigned
(Tzetzes, Chiliad. viii. 972). From this house him by God was more that of founding the science
came forth his nephew Speusippus, Xenocrates of of politics by means of moral principles than of
Chalcedon, Aristotle, Heracleides Ponticus, Hes practising it in the struggle with existing relations.
tiaeus of Perinthus, Philippus the Opuntian, and From the time when he opened the school in the
others, men from the most different parts of Greece. Academy (it was only during his second and third
To the wider circle of those who, without attaching journeys to Sicily that one of his more intimate
themselves to the more narrow community of the companions- Heracleides Ponticus is named -
school, sought instruction and incitement from him, had to supply his place, Suid. s. v. Heracleid. ) we
distinguished men of the age, such as Chabrias, find him occupied solely in giving instruction and
Iphicrates (Aristid. ii. p. 325), Timotheus (Athen. in the composition of his works. He is said to
x. 14, comp. Aelian. V. H. ii. 18. § 10 ; Plut. de have died while writing in the 8lst, or according
Sanit. tuenda, p. 127. 6), Phocion, Hyperides, Ly- to others the 84th year of his age, in Ol. 108. 1,
curgus, Isocrates (Diog. Laërt. iii. 46), are said to B. C. 347 (Cic. de Senect. 5; Senec. Epist. Iviii. ;
have belonged. Whether Demosthenes was of the Neanthes in Diog. Laërt. iii. 3 ; Diog. Laërt. v. 9 ;
number is doubtful (Dem. Epist. v. ; Cic. de Orat. Athen. v. p. 57, &c. ). According to Hermippus he
i. 20, Brut. 32, Orat. 5, de Offic. i. ), &c. ; on the died at a marriage feast (Diog. Laërt. iii.
3; Au-
other hand see Niebuhr, Kleine historische Schriften, gust. de Civ. Dei, viii. 2). Thence probably arose
p. 482 ; Bake, Biblioth. Crit. Nova, v. ). 194, &c. ). the title of the éloge of Speusippus --HASTWvoS
Even women are said to have attached themselves to Trepidectvov. According to his last will his garden
him as his disciples (Diog. Laërt. I. c. , comp. Olym- remained the property of the school (Diog. Laërt.
piod. ). Plato's occupation as an instructor was ii. 43), and passed, considerably increased by later
twice interrupted by journeys undertaken to Sicily ; additions, into the hands of the Neo-Platonists,
first when Dion, probably soon after the death of who kept as a festival his birth-day as well as that
the elder Dionysius (01. 103. 1, B. C. 368), deter- of Socrates (Damasc. ap. Phot. Cod. ccxlii. ; Por-
mined him to make the attempt to win the younger phyr. ap. Euseb. Praep. Evang. x. 3, p. 468).
Dionysius to philosophy (Plat. Epist. vii. p. 327, Athenians and strangers honoured his memory by
iii. p. 316, c; Plut. Dion, c. ll, &c. 16, &c. , monuments (Diog. Laërt. iii. 43 ; Pharorin. ib. 25).
Philosoph. esse cum Princip. c. 4 ; Corn. Nep. x. 3; Yet he had no lack of enemies and enviers, and
Diog. Laërt. iii. 21); the second time, a few years the attacks which were made upon him with scoffs
later (about B. c. 361), when the wish of his Pytha- and ridicule, partly by contemporary comic poets, as
gorean friends, and the invitation of Dionysius to Theopompus, Alexis, Cratinus the younger, and
reconcile the disputes which had broken out shortly others (Diog. Laërt. iii. 26, &c. ; Athen. xi. p. 509,
after Plato's departure between him and his step- ii. p. 59), partly by one-sided Socratics, as Antis-
uncle Dion, brought him back to Syracuse. His thenes, Diogenes, and the later Megarics (Diog.
efforts were both times unsuccessful, and he owed Laërt. iii. 35, vi. 7, 26, ii. 119; comp. Schleierma-
his own safety to nothing but the earnest inter- cher's Platon, ii. 1, pp. 19, 183, 404, 406 ; ii. 2, pp.
cession of Archytas (Plat. Epist. vii. pp. 339, 345, 17, 20), found a loud echo among Epicureans,
ji. p. 318 ; Plut. Dion, c. 20 ; Diog. Laërt. iii. 25). Stoics, certain Peripatetics, and later writers eager
Immediately after his return, Dion, whom he found for detraction. Thus even Antisthenes and Aris-
at the Olympic games (Ol. 105. 1, B. C. 360), pre- toxenus (Diog. Laërt. iii. 35; Athen. v. p. 424, xi.
dared for the contest, attacked Syracuse, and, sup- p. 507; Mahne, de Aristoceno, pp. 14, 73, 91)
ported by Speusippus and other friends of Plato, charged him with sensuality, avarice, and syco-
though not by Plato himself, drove out the tyrant, phancy (Diog. Laërt. iii. 29; Athen. xi. p. 509, S,
but was then himself assassinated ; upon which xiii. p. 589, c); and others with vanity, ambition,
Dionysius again made himself master of the govern- and envy towards other Socratics (Athen. xi. p.
ment (Plat. Ep. ; Plut. I. cc. ; Diog. Laërt. iii
. 25). 507, d ; Diog. Laërt. vi. 3, 7, 24, 26, 34 ; comp. A.
That Plato cherished the hope of realising through Böckh, Commentat. Acad. de Simultate
the conversion of Dionysius his idea of a state in cum Xenophonte intercessisse fertur, Berol. 1811).
the rising city of Syracuse, was a belief pretty Others again accused him of having borrowed the
generally spread in antiquity (Plut. Philos. e. princ. form and substance of his doctrine from earlier
c. 4; Theunist. Orat. xvii. p. 215, b; Diog. Laërt. philosophers, as Aristippus, Antisthenes (Theo
US
quae Platoni
W W
## p. 395 (#411) ############################################
PLATO.
395
PLATO.
as
pomp. ap. Athen. xi. p. 508, c), Protagoras (Diog. | anatreptically); as also dialogues which communi-
Laërt
. iii
. 37), Epicharmus (Alcimus ap. Diog. Laërt cated instruction theoretically (physically or logi-
iï. 9, &c. ), Philolaus (Diog. Laërt. iii. 9). But as cally), and practically (ethically or politically).
the latter accusation is refuted both by the contra- (Diog. Laërt. iii. 49; Albin. Isag. 128. ) With
diction which it carries in itself, and by comparison regard to the second point, attention was espe-
of the Pythagorean doctrine with that of Plato, 60 cially directed to the dramatic character of ihe
is the former, not only by the weakness of the dialogues, and, according to it, the Alexandrian
evidence brought forward in its favour, but still grammarian Aristophanes of Byzantium arranged
more by the depth and purity of moral sentiment, a part of them together in trilogies_(Sophistes,
which, with all the marks of internal truth, is re- Politicus, Cratylus Theaetetus, Euthyphron,
flected in the writings of Plato.
Apology — Politeia, Timaeus, Critias- the Laws,
Minos, Epinomis — Criton, Phaedon, Letters),
II. THE WRITINGS OF PLATO.
the rest he left unarranged, though on what
These writings, by a happy destiny, have come grounds he was led to do so it is not easy to
down to us complete, so far as appears, in texts com- discover. Thrasylus, in the age of Tiberius, with
paratively well preserved, and have always been reference to the above-named division into inves-
admired as a model of the union of artistic perfection tigating and instructing dialogues, divided the
with philosophical acuteness and depth. Plato was whole number into tetralogies, probably because
by no means the first to attempt the form of dialogue. Plato had given intimation of his intention to add
Zeno the Eleatic had already written in the form a conclusion to the dialogues Theaetetus,
of question and answer (Diog. Laërt. iii. 48; comp. Sophistes, and Politicus, one called Philosophus,
Arist. Elench. Soph. 10). Alexamenus the Teian and to the trilogy of the Politeia, Timaeus, and
and Sophron in the mimes had treated ethical Critias, the Hermocrates (Plat. Politic. p. 257, a.
subjects in the form of dialogue (Diog. Laërt. Critias, p. 108, a. c.
