Parmenides was so hard for me. My plan is to revisit that one after I've made it through all of the dialogues and see if I understand it any better after that. I see arguments from Sophist and Statesmen show up in other dialogues, so that exposure is helping me think through those dialogues retroactively.
A short line for each dialogue to jog your memory is a great idea; I'm definitely going to copy you on that. Can I ask why you skipped forward to read Ion?
It would be interesting to hear about your idea what a "mythos" is, according to Plato. And which stories in Plato's work do you consider "mythos", and which "logos"? (Or third categories: analogies e.g.) Just from your fresh and individual reading ....
IMHO, the Greek word "mythos" is overloaded with meaning when we translate it with the modern word "myth". Our modern understanding of "myth" is very specific, while Plato's idea of a "mythos" is much more basic. At its core it only means a story which is not supported by any argument (while a "logos" is supported by some argument). Therefore, what is "mythos" for Plato, can have many different meanings for us today. "Myth" is only one of these meanings. - And often, an analogy is confused as mythos, which it is not. Plato's Cave is an analogy, not a mythos. Or the Soul Chariot is an analogy within a mythos (very subtle differentiation required here).
Sophist, Statesman, Parmenides, and Philebus that early is intense. It will make the latter half feel like a breeze.
Parmenides was so hard for me. My plan is to revisit that one after I've made it through all of the dialogues and see if I understand it any better after that. I see arguments from Sophist and Statesmen show up in other dialogues, so that exposure is helping me think through those dialogues retroactively.
A short line for each dialogue to jog your memory is a great idea; I'm definitely going to copy you on that. Can I ask why you skipped forward to read Ion?
I read that in preparation for a podcast discussion with Ascend: The Great Books Podcast that will air on August 25th.
Keep up the great work! Thank you for sharing your insights on this journey. It’s been fun to tag along.
It would be interesting to hear about your idea what a "mythos" is, according to Plato. And which stories in Plato's work do you consider "mythos", and which "logos"? (Or third categories: analogies e.g.) Just from your fresh and individual reading ....
I talked about it a little bit in the following episodes. It's something I'm very interested in:
https://www.booksoftitans.com/p/thales
https://www.booksoftitans.com/p/the-logos-of-heraclitus-eva-brann
https://www.booksoftitans.com/p/the-birth-of-love
IMHO, the Greek word "mythos" is overloaded with meaning when we translate it with the modern word "myth". Our modern understanding of "myth" is very specific, while Plato's idea of a "mythos" is much more basic. At its core it only means a story which is not supported by any argument (while a "logos" is supported by some argument). Therefore, what is "mythos" for Plato, can have many different meanings for us today. "Myth" is only one of these meanings. - And often, an analogy is confused as mythos, which it is not. Plato's Cave is an analogy, not a mythos. Or the Soul Chariot is an analogy within a mythos (very subtle differentiation required here).
That's helpful. Thank you
I do need to get that. I will order that. Thanks for the reminder.