Understanding the Platonic Dialogue from the Perspective of Gadamer’s Hermeneutics

Abstract

This article focuses on Plato’s The Republic from the perspective of Gadamer’s hermeneutic understanding, which has three dimensions, that is, dialogue, effective history and hermeneutic circle. Firstly, the article introduces the general characteristics of the Platonic dialogue and Socrates’ dialectic devices in The Republic . Then, it analyzes the Platonic dialogue in The Republic from the perspective of effective history. Historical and social elements are discussed, including Socrates’s life, the democracy, the ancient Greek spirit and the sophism. Thirdly, the article explicates the Platonic dialogue in The Republic from the perspective of hermeneutic circle. The relationship of the totality and metaphysics of the Platonic philosophy and the individuality and concretization of the Platonic dialogue are discussed. Finally, the article concludes that the distinct characteristics of Platonic dialogue—being open, equal, sincere, emphasizing the dialogic process and self-understanding, applying Socrates’ dialectics—are consistent with Socrates and Plato’s pursuit of truth. Plato’s choice of dialogue as the form of writing is influenced by Socrates, Athenian democracy, Greek spirit and sophism. And finally, the individuality and concretization of the Platonic dialogue and the totality and metaphysics of the Platonic philosophy are complements to each other. All these aspects follow the dialogue, effective history and hermeneutic circle in hermeneutic understanding.