“Aristotle on the Socratic Dialogue”

Abstract:

The aim of this paper is to examine one passage at the very beginning of the Poetics (Poet. 1.1.1447a2-b13) in which Aristotle mentions the logoi sōkratikoi. I propose to read this passage alongside three other passages: fr. 3 Ross [= 44a Janko] of Aristotle’s dialogue On the poets, Rhet. 3.16.1417a15-22, and POxy 3219 fr. 1 Haslam [= PCG I Sophron Test. 4, 188].Two questions will guide my reading of these passages: (1) what do we learn from them on Aristotle’s view of the generic nature and distinct features of the Socratic dialogue?; (2) is Aristotle’s treatment of this literary genre partly motivated by an anti-Platonic polemic?

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