Abstract
Plato’s treatment of myth is an oft-debated topic. There are examples, such as those found in the Republic and Phaedo, which would seem to suggest that myth is an inferior discourse, or in some extreme interpretations, not to be taken seriously at all. Plato’s very use of myth makes these suggestions suspect and somewhat paradoxical. Looking towards the Phaedrus, and the palinode in particular, provides a certain degree of clarity in the realm of interpreting Platonic myth. The interplay of mythos and logos that is required in the discussion of the soul helps to illustrate the role of mythos in philosophical discourse. Ultimately, the merit of myth lies in its differences and union with logos, it is in this relationship that we see a resemblance to the method of dialectic (collection and division) described in the second half of the dialogue.
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