Zurich Open Repository and Archive University of Zurich Main Library Strickhofstrasse 39 CH-8057 Zurich www.zora.uzh.ch Year: 2007 Warum hat Platon die "ungeschriebene Lehre" nicht geschrieben? Ferber, Rafael Abstract: The debate over Plato's " so called unwritten doctrines", which he communicated only to a small circle of trusted disciples, has caused a stir among philosophers in recent decades. Rafael Ferber assumes a differentiated position in this controversy. He is convinced that the unwritten doctrines did exist, but that Plato, for reasons inherent in the process of gaining knowledge, was unable to communicate these doctrines even to his closest disciples. In this book, Ferber outlines the discussion and summarizes the standpoints of greatest interest. Since Aristotle, we have known that Plato did not put his most important teachings into writing, but instead communicated them orally to the inner circle of his disciples. Although the extant dialogues pass down Plato's "exoteric" doctrines, his most important "esoteric" insights were not meant for the general public. The content and significance of these "so called unwritten doctrines" have become the subject of debate in philosophical circles. Fifteen years ago, at the height of the controversy over these doctrines, Ferber entered the fray with a small book. He proposed that Plato was also unable to communicate the unwritten doctrines because the highest principles (i.e. the subject of the "so called unwritten doctrines") cannot be known as such due to an epistemological paradox. Ferber's alternative position met with great respect and acceptance, although in individual cases it was also rejected. Ferber's new book again presents the text of 1991, but significantly expands on it through new perspectives and an outline of the discussion it triggered. In this book, the reader learns what is meant by Plato's "so called unwritten doctrines" and what the controversy is all about. Posted at the Zurich Open Repository and Archive, University of Zurich ZORA URL: https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-4133 Other Originally published at: Ferber, Rafael (2007). Warum hat Platon die "ungeschriebene Lehre" nicht geschrieben? München: C.H. Beck. Inhaltsverzeichnis Vorwort zur ersten Auflage Vorwort zur Neuauflage Einleitung A. Die Antworten aus der Republik I. Die «ungeschriebene Lehre» als Geheimlehre? II. Die «ungeschriebene Lehre» als «dürrer Schematismus»? III. Die «ungeschriebene Lehre» als Meinung IV. Das Wissen der «ungeschriebenen Lehre» als göttliches Wissen V. Das Wissen der «ungeschriebenen Lehre» als unerreichtes Postulat B. Die Antworten aus Phaidros und Timaios I. Die «Schriftkritik» des Phaidros als Kritik schriftlicher Publikation II. Das Wissen des Dialektikers als Wissensanspruch III. Der bedingte Wissensanspruch des Dialektikers IV. Das Nichtwissen um die weiter zurückgehenden Anfänge im Timaios C. Die Antworten aus dem Siebten Brief I. «Denn es ist nicht sagbar wie andere Lehren» II. Das «Licht in der Seele» III. Die «wahre Lehre» IV. Das «grösste» Argument der «wahren Lehre» V. Nochmals das «Licht in der Seele» und die Schwierigkeit der platonischen Philosophie Schluss Retraktation Anmerkungen Erwähnte Literatur Rezensionen und Diskussionen der ersten Auflage Register