A Multivariate Synthesis of Published Platonic Stylometric Data

Abstract

Multivariate analysis of published stylometric data (general linguistic, clausular, reply, hiatus, orthographic) yields principal components analysis ordinations of twenty-five Platonic dialogues. Similarities between ordinations based on thirty-eight general linguistic and thirty-two clausular variables are interpreted as indicating parallel chronological changes between dialogues. In multidimensional space the early and middle dialogues form a cluster disjunct from the late dialogues. Among early and middle dialogues evidence of chronological stylistic change is slight, but is broadly consistent with commonly accepted views on the sequence of dialogues, except for the early placement of the Meno and the relatively late placement of the Euthyphro. The Parmenides and Theaetetus belong stylistically to the middle dialogues, the Timaeus and Critias to the late dialogues: stylistic criteria for the dating of these dialogues are preferred to arguments based on the postulated evolution of Plato's metaphysics. The late dialogues show unexpected stylistic variability, either because Plato was capable late in life of writing in widely different styles, or because of secretarial/editorial influences in the late dialogues.