The Dialogues of Plato (Jowett)/Appendix II
APPENDIX II.
Appendix II.
The two dialogues which are translated in the second appendix
are not mentioned by Aristotle, or by any early authority, and
have no claim to be ascribed to Plato. They are examples of
Platonic dialogues to be assigned probably to the second or third
generation after Plato, when his writings were well known at
Athens and Alexandria. They exhibit considerable originality,
and are remarkable for containing several thoughts of the sort
which we suppose to be modern rather than ancient, and which
therefore have a peculiar interest for us. The Second Alcibiades
shows that the difficulties about prayer which have perplexed
Christian theologians were not unknown among the followers of
Plato. The Eryxias was doubted by the ancients themselves : yet
it may claim the distinction of being, among all Greek or Roman
writings, the one which anticipates in the most striking manner
the modern science of political economy and gives an abstract
form to some of its principal doctrines.
For the translation of these two dialogues I am indebted to my
friend and secretary, IVIr. Knight.
That the Dialogue which goes by the name of the Second
Alcibiades is a gcntiine writing of Plato will not be maintained by
any modern critic, and was hardly believed by the ancients
themselves. The dialectic is poor and weak. There is no power
over language, or beauty of style ; and there is a certain abrupt-
ness and dypoiKia in the conversation, which is very un-Platonic.
The best passage is probably that about the poets, p. 147 : — the
remark that the poet, who is of a reserved disposition, is un-
commonly difficult to understand, and the ridiculous interpretation
of Homer, are entirely in the spirit of Plato (cp. Protag. 339 foil. ;
Ion 534 ; Apol. 22 D). The characters are ill-drawn. Socrates Page:The Dialogues of Plato v. 2.djvu/545