he Republic

Dialectic
What is the dialectic? Plato's text states:
"The dialectic remains the only intellectual process whose method is that of dissecting hypotheses and
ascending to first principles in order to obtain valid knowledge. Even when the souls eye is sunk in the
muddy pit or barbarism, the dialectic will gently release it and draw it upward, calling upon the studies
we recently examined to support its work of conversion. We should note here that habit has several
times caused us to call these studies sciences. We really need another word that would connote
something more enlightened than opinion but less pure than science. I believe we used the word
understanding earlier." (St. 533d; S&S 227)
Dialectic is the process by which thought leads one to knowledge. Discussion is the spur to dialectic.
Through talking with each other, people can delve more deeply into problems and figure out an answer.
Last time I taught this text, I puzzled with my students over why these texts were written in dialogue
form. We finally decided that this form would allow a reader to feel like a part of the dialogue, so that
the dialectic process could work for him or her as well. In following the different movements of an
argument, a reader could figure out his or her own interventions in the discussion. In so doing, the
reader would be further persuaded to believe in the points being made.


Form of the Good - Among the Forms, one stands out as most important. This is the Form of the Good.
Plato is unable to tell us exactly what the Form of The Good is, but he does tell us that it is the source of
intelligibility and of our capacity to know, and also that it is responsible for bringing all of the other
Forms into existence. He compares its role in the intelligible realm to the role of the sun in the visible
realm. The Form of the Good is the ultimate object of knowledge; it is only once one grasps the Form of
the Good that one reaches the highest grade of cognitive activity, understanding. Therefore, it is only
after he grasps the Form of the Good that a philosopher-in-training becomes a philosopher-king.