Myth and philosophy on stage in Platonic dialogues

Abstract

This thesis consists of two components: first, I question and reposition the most dominant academic perspectives pertaining to the relationship between myth and philosophy; second, I analyze Plato__s use of myth to demonstrate my reevaluation of the issue by formulating and testing my own interdisciplinary methodology which I term __mutual scaffolding__. I will investigate the dynamic interaction between myth and philosophy in six dialogues and argue that the interaction is based on a unity of the forms of discourse rather than division. In other words, instead of defining the communication between myth and philosophy in terms of opposition I argue that in specific cases, particularly in my selection of Platonic dialogues, the two forms of discourse participate in an interdependent unity. It is my aim to describe how the role of myth is inserted by Plato after careful selection, interpretation and modification in order to function in multiple ways. I examine how myth operates as a hypothesis in the Meno __ a text that functions as an instruction manual to guide the reader in how to do one form of philosophy correctly. The Protagoras provides us with an advanced dual between a myth/hypothesis presented by a sophist and alternative lines of argument submitted by Socrates. In the Phaedo we are shown how myth acts as a regulating code for how to follow the arguments, opposing arguments and the connections between arguments in the text. The Phaedrus introduces myth as a device which facilitates transition from one philosophical position to another. Finally, the Atlantis myth in both the Timaeus and Critias operates as a tool for Plato__s self-reflection and criticism.