Von hier nach dort Syntetisches Zeug

Often, when studying Plato, a selective understanding of philosophy is applied that does not do justice to the complexity of the term in the Platonic oeuvre. Consequently, this volume demonstrates how throughout the oeuvre Plato’s interest in the notion of philosophy grows and becomes more differentiated as he discusses traditional views. Philosophical dialogue, philosophical life, philosophical eros, philosophical death and philosophical knowledge form systematic aspects under which the philosophical understanding of individual dialogues is explored. The guiding principle is shown to be an intentional dynamic “from here to there” – a metaphor that is often encountered in Plato’s work to describe place, movement and goal of philosophy. Moreover, there is always a practical dimension in Plato’s philosophical reflections that is expressed in the question concerning the good life and brings about a process of change in the person philosophising.