ABSTRACT
It is difficult to give an adequate assessment of Plato in a history of literature. An exposition of his enduring importance in the history of both Greek and western thought, and indeed in the whole of European civilisation, would entail a close analysis of his philosophy, which would extend far beyond the scope of this book. On the other hand, some of Plato's Dialogues rank among the most consummate literary compositions ever written in Greek. Their literary merits, however, lie in the way they are able to reproduce extremely subtle lines of thought completely and without any loose ends in a dramatically composed discussion between clearly portrayed partners. With Plato, therefore, it is not possible to separate the philosopher from the writer, even allowing for the fact that in his later Dialogues literary form occasionally took a back seat to content, whereas in his earlier ones his delight in playing with his literary medium, for example with parodies of diverse styles, results in virtuoso formulations that are by no means essential to their philosophical content.
