The adverb exaíphnes means fundamentally «on a sudden», «suddenly», «instantaneously». In Plato’s works it appears in some recurrences in particular contexts where the nature and form of knowledge are under discussion more or less expressly. This word has a particular function and meaning in Cratylus and in the myth of the cave in book VII of Plato’s Republic : in these texts it seems to allude to the groundlessness and impossibility of a sudden ecstatic and over-rational form of authentic knowledge. In fact, the real knowledge requires according to Plato a gradual and systematic way of inquiring and reflection, i.e. the dialectic method. The platonic philosophy rests on it, because only this kind of knowledge can lógon didónai (i.e. give reason) about itself: it is able to account for its own nature and validity.
Riflessioni su alcune ricorrenze del termine exaíphnes in Platone
ABBATE, MICHELE
2012-01-01
Abstract
The adverb exaíphnes means fundamentally «on a sudden», «suddenly», «instantaneously». In Plato’s works it appears in some recurrences in particular contexts where the nature and form of knowledge are under discussion more or less expressly. This word has a particular function and meaning in Cratylus and in the myth of the cave in book VII of Plato’s Republic : in these texts it seems to allude to the groundlessness and impossibility of a sudden ecstatic and over-rational form of authentic knowledge. In fact, the real knowledge requires according to Plato a gradual and systematic way of inquiring and reflection, i.e. the dialectic method. The platonic philosophy rests on it, because only this kind of knowledge can lógon didónai (i.e. give reason) about itself: it is able to account for its own nature and validity.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
