The Development of Dialectic from Plato to Aristotle

Pioneering collection of essays contributing to the history of philosophy and also to the contemporary debate about what philosophy is.

Jakob Leth Fink (Edited by)

9781107012226, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 1 November 2012

364 pages, 1 b/w illus.
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.1 cm, 0.66 kg

The period from Plato's birth to Aristotle's death (427–322 BC) is one of the most influential and formative in the history of Western philosophy. The developments of logic, metaphysics, epistemology, ethics and science in this period have been investigated, controversies have arisen and many new theories have been produced. But this is the first book to give detailed scholarly attention to the development of dialectic during this decisive period. It includes chapters on topics such as: dialectic as interpersonal debate between a questioner and a respondent; dialectic and the dialogue form; dialectical methodology; the dialectical context of certain forms of arguments; the role of the respondent in guaranteeing good argument; dialectic and presentation of knowledge; the interrelations between written dialogues and spoken dialectic; and definition, induction and refutation from Plato to Aristotle. The book contributes to the history of philosophy and also to the contemporary debate about what philosophy is.

Introduction Jakob Fink
Part I. Dialectic as Interpersonal Activity: 1. Self-refutation and dialectic in Plato and Aristotle Luca Castagnoli
2. The role of the respondent in Plato and Aristotle Marja-Liisa Kakkuri-Knuuttila
3. Division as a method in Plato Hallvard Fossheim
Part II. Form and Content in the Philosophical Dialogue: 4. Dialectic and dialogue in the Lysis Morten S. Thaning
5. The Laches and 'joint search dialectic' Holger Thesleff
6. The philosophical importance of the dialogue form for Plato Charles H. Kahn
7. How did Aristotle read a Platonic dialogue? Jakob L. Fink
Part III. Dialectical Methodology: 8. What is behind the ti esti question? Vasilis Politis
9. Socratic induction in Plato and Aristotle Hayden W. Ausland
10. Aristotle's definition of elenchus in the light of Plato's Sophist Louis-André Dorion
11. The Aristotelian elenchus Robert Bolton
12. Aristotle's gradual turn from dialectic Wolfgang Kullmann.

Subject Areas: History of ideas [JFCX], Western philosophy: Ancient, to c 500 [HPCA], Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA]