ABSTRACT
We can now say, when we look back at the modern theory of the Platonic dialogues (see pp. 28-32 esp. 29) which ascribes to the written dialogues the task which Plato reserves for spoken philosophical inquiry, that this theory is not only unPlatonic in the sense that it has no Platonic text to support it (see above, p. 30), but also anti-Platonic in the sense that it contravenes the spirit and letter of the critique of writing and deliberately turns a deaf ear to Plato’s continual and clear references to his oral doctrine of principles.
