Rhetoric, Paideia and the Phaedrus Essay -- Philosophy Philosophical P

Rhetoric, Paideia and the PhaedrusABSTRACT Some of the nonorious interpretive puzzles of the Phaedrus arise from demonstrate it in terms of a static version of mimesis hence, the concerns ab extinct its app arent failure to enact its own norms and the status of its own self-commentaries. However, if the dialogue is read in the light of the more dynamic model of a perfectionist paideia that is, Platos portrayal of Socrates as attempting to woo Phaedrus to philosophy (with only partial success) is itself a rhetorical attempt to woo the catch reader then numerous of the puzzles fall into place as part of the rhetorical strategy. The apparent overlook of formal unity arises out of Phaedrus own deficiencies the written dialogue turns out precisely not to fall foul of the criticisms of writing that it contains, and its self-commentaries can be given their appropriate ironic weight. On this reading, a Platonic conception of philosophy that embodies yet transcends the dialectical i s given persuasive expression. The interpretative puzzles of the Phaedrus are notorious from a rhetorical point of view it is far from pass along that it exhibits the organic unity it apparently endorses, from a philosophical one it exhibits in partially dialectical writing a critique of dialectical writing, slice its self-commentary on its own set speeches is puzzling not least the peak of endorsement it allows to the associations between mania, eros, poetry and philosophy rhetorically presented in Socrates act speech.Richard Rutherfords recent discussion of these issues (1995 chap. 9) provides a helpful starting point. He believably argues for reading Socrates second speech in the light of the wider dialogue not least in the light of the Pha... ...ch feelings in the context of ones own acquaintance of eros that one may find ones sensibilities transformed. The wings of the soul of the appropriate reader, on this account, would be capable of being nourished into growth fin ished the dialogue itself, standing to us as older friend in the perfectionist aspiration, a dialogue which in appropriating one may move beyond. flora CitedCavell 1990 Stanley Cavell, Conditions Handsome and Unhandsome, Carus Lectures 1988, Chicago and London, University of ChicagoNietzsche 1983 Friedrich Nietzsche, Untimely Meditations, Cambridge, Cambridge University press outNussbaum 1986 Martha Nussbaum, The Fragility of Goodness, Cambridge, Cambridge University PressPlato 1986 Plato, Phaedrus, ed. and tr. C.J. Rowe, Warminster, Aris & PhillipsRutherford 1995 R.B. Rutherford, The Art of Plato, Trowbridge, Duckworth