ABSTRACT
While good will towards one’s discussion-partner is necessary for any genuine understanding, for us as readers the live opposite number is replaced by written depiction. Reaching a correct attitude is undoubtedly made difficult by this, inasmuch as any wrong attitudes which may crop up cannot be corrected by the book, in contrast with when one is dealing with a personal partner. It is thus of decisive importance that certain irritations which might be experienced when reading Plato should be recognised as such and counteracted. It should be remembered that here we are dealing with irritations which we know by experience may be felt by a reader who is basically open-minded and interested in philosophy, who in addition has taste and education. It has to be realised that these are a consequence of Plato’s conception of the correct manner of philosophical communication, and are thus in the final analysis a consequence of his concept of philosophy; only in this way can we avoid letting passing irritations become a lasting obstacle to assimilating Plato’s thought.
