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Plato
Studies (Commentaries):
Alcibiades
Major
Here
is a link to a scholarly journal article
on Plato's Alcibiades Major by Robert R. Wellman (my dissertation
advisor.) This is a good example of looking at Plato through the
"functional interpretation," which is one of the foundations for DEPTH
Dialogue. This commentary is important because this dialogue gives a
clear and vivid introduction to a psychological and transformational
understanding of Plato's whole project. DEPTH Dialogue is based on
extending this understanding into the practical and functional experiential realm.
To read this in PDF format (853 KB) click here.
My commentary for now is brief. There will be a more detailed commentary sometime in
the future.
The Alcibiades Major
is a very little known Dialogue of Plato which was
nevertheless considered by ancient authors as the gateway to Plato's
Dialogues. It well deserves this because, especially in terms of the
practice of deep inwardly focused Socratic dialogue, it provides
insights into the practice of Dialectic that are not found anywhere
else.
First of all, it
presents the relationship of the guide and the student
as being a central, essential component of the practice. And it shows
how crucial it is that this relationship be one of love - love from the
guide for the true self (psyche, soul) of the student, to stir his deep
inner feelings, and eventually love from the student toward the guide,
this drawing the student out from his Narcissus ego-self
pre-occupations. (See the section of Deep
Loving Friendship for a full
exposition of this topic.)
Secondly, it presents
an analogy of a mirror to illustrate the dynamics
of the above relationship. This shows that the Self (the "I" or eye)
can only know and love itself when it views itself in its reflection in
the mirror of another Self (another "I" or eye.) The guide-student love
relationship is not only useful, it is absolutely necessary. Without it
Self could not come to know Self, and thereby come to full
self-realization, the goal of Dialectic (DEPTH Dialogue.)
Lastly, the love
relationship between guide and student has to be
governed by what Socrates called (in the ancient, classical Greek) sophrosyne. This word is not easy
to translate, but the meaning is something like "experiential
truth-centeredness": being centered
in
the true feeling-sense of your own inner experiencing. In other words,
speaking and acting the truth of your truest, deepest inner feelings,
in contrast to speaking and acting from your impulses, memories,
emotions and beliefs.
Love is an erotic impulse and emotion that by its own nature would move
toward union with the other person, emotionally, physically or
spiritually. Sophrosyne
redirects that immediate impulse toward what you most truly and most
deeply want. And that is something deeper and ultimately more
satisfying than union with the beloved. That turns out to be the
awakening and activation of the Dynamic Radiant Beingness of the true
Self. (See the section on True Self Knowing
for a complete explanation of that.)
So, through sophrosyne the
strong passionate emotion of eros/love is redirected from immediate
satisfaction into becoming a force for full self-realization.
These elements are what make the Alcibiades Major the most important of
Plato's Dialogues for getting a deep understanding of the inner
dynamics of the Dialectic.
To continue, return
to Commentaries or Plato
Studies.
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