The Plato Paradigm

Ivor Ludlam: A Critical Analysis of Plato’s Io

Click here for a structural diagram, summary, and full account of Plato’s Io.

Traditional View

• Poetry and rhapsody are divinely inspired. This seems to be in stark contrast with Plato’s hostile attitude towards poetry in other dialogues.
• The dialogue is too short and too concerned with poetry to be of any philosophical worth.

This Analysis

• The dialogue dramatizes the concept of dianoia, an understanding of an author’s intent.
• Both the correct and incorrect aspects of the concept are dramatized.
• The rhapsode Io appears to understand Homer very well, as he memorizes and translates Homer’s words into powerful performances.
• Merely memorizing and converting text into performance is far from understanding the author’s intent.
• Plato wrote texts. Regurgitating them is not to be mistaken for understanding.