Common Knowledge

Allen’s book is an attempt to answer the question of why Plato chose to communicate his philosophy in written form, particularly in dialogues. Her answer is that he “wrote—not solely but consistently—to change Athenian culture and thereby transform Athenian politics.” In support of this thesis, Allen presents a theory of rhetoric, of the persuasive use of language, that she attributes to Plato. She examines those passages in Plato, especially in Phaedrus and in the so-called 7th Epistle, in which he appears to offer some hints about his view of writing, including his own. Against all standard interpretations, Allen reads these passages as suggesting that, despite his misgivings about the value of writing, Plato nevertheless thought that his own writing could have a salutary effect on the Athenian public. In support of this interpretation, she offers some examples of the use of political rhetoric in the late fourth century that may possibly have been drawn from Plato’s dialogues.