ABSTRACT

When it comes to theories of consciousness, Plato is something of an enigma. If treatment by contemporary philosophers is any clue, he seems to have almost nothing to say on the topic. Leading reference works have scarcely a mention of him. 1 Cooper’s recent set of his complete works (used in this chapter) has only scattered reference to consciousness or its cognates. Searches of philosophical academic databases produce little of substance. Unlike Aristotle, who has at least had some focused treatment, 2 one fi nds scant philosophical discussion of Plato’s psychology, let alone his analysis of mind. Plato, it would seem, has little to add to our understanding of consciousness.