Plato and Aristophanes in dialogue: Birds and Phaedrus
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https://doi.org/10.14195/1984-249X_36_12Keywords:
Plato, Aristophanes, Birds, PhaedrusAbstract
Based on the observation made by Olympiodorus the Younger in his Life of Plato, which notes that Plato’s admiration for Aristophanes is apparent in the composition of his dialogues, this paper sets out to examine the relationship between the comedy Birds and Phaedrus to test the hypothesis that the philosopher drew inspiration from the playwright in structuring his dialogue. Beyond the natural setting and the plot driven by a pair of protagonists, an emphasis on eroticism and rhetoric is present in both texts. It is well known that Plato was familiar with Aristophanes’ work, so the points of contact between the texts suggest more than mere coincidences.
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