플라톤 『필레보스』편의 극적 구조와 대화편 전체의 통일성

Abstract

Many commentators and scholars have been especially troubled by the perplexing metaphysical accounts throughout the Philebus. In order to show the unity of the dialogue, I will take a close look at the dramatic setting of the Philebus, especially at the characters and their conversation. Plato's Philebus is extremely hard to understand; especially given the complex metaphysical account in the middle of the dialogue, which can distract the readers from reading the work as a dialogue. Few scholars have paid much attention to its dramatic settings and characters, focusing on instead the complicated philosophical accounts in the middle of the dialogue. Nonetheless, such a reading of the dialogue without considering its dramatic elements, I think, misses the author’s intention in writing the Philebus in dialogue form. Plato has written many of his works in the form of dialogue, a real life conversation between men. He believes philosophy should be done in the process of philosophizing among inquirers after truth, and that a dramatic format will convey this pursuit most vividly. Furthermore, the Philebus is more like a dramatic dialogue than other late Plato's works, among which the Philebus belongs. Therefore, I propose to read this work as indeed a dialogue, and argue that this approach best reveals Plato’s philosophical intention in writing it. At the beginning of the dialogue, Socrates wants to make sure that the conversation between himself and Protarchus is not a verbal competition but a process to find the truth. Protarchus is also willing to pursue the truth and concede to participate in the discussion with the attitude Socrates asks for. This is why Protarchus did not show the same reaction to Socrates as other interlocutors of other dialogues with refuted claims, but admits his ignorance, develops his philosophical argument, opens his mind to the new possibility and examines pleasure and knowledge with Socrates. Socrates looks for those, who admit their ignorance and are ready to join Socrates in the search for the truth. Protarchus is such a supportive character, interested more in finding knowledge than in winning the verbal contest against Socrates. He is ready to converse with Socrates in the pursuit of knowledge. Plato, as an author, intentionally chooses Protarchus as Socrates' ideal interlocutor, who is still young, ready to learn more, not stubborn as he is not an expert in a certain area yet, but well educated. And this is how Plato wrote the Philebus as a good representation how the ideal pursuit of philosophy should be done.