Result called _Knowledge_, which Plato aspires to. Power of going through a Sokratic cross-examination; not attainable except through the Platonic process and method 396 Platonic process adapted to Platonic topics--man and society 397 Plato does not provide solutions for the difficulties which he has raised. The affirmative and negative veins are in him completely distinct. His dogmas are enunciations _à priori_ of some impressive sentiment 399 Hypothesis--that Plato had solved all his own difficulties for himself; but that he communicated the solution only to a few select auditors in oral lectures--Untenable 401 Characteristic of the oral lectures--that they were delivered in Plato's own name. In what other respects they departed from the dialogues, we cannot say 402 Apart from any result, Plato has an interest in the process of search and debate _per se_. Protracted enquiry is a valuable privilege, not a tiresome obligation 403 Plato has done more than any one else to make the process of enquiry interesting to others, as it was to himself 405 Process of generalisation always kept in view and illustrated throughout the Platonic Dialogues of Search--general terms and propositions made subjects of conscious analysis 406 The Dialogues must be reviewed as distinct compositions by the same author, illustrating each other, but without assignable inter-dependence 407 Order of the Dialogues, chosen for bringing them under separate review. Apology will come first; Timæus, Kritias, Leges, Epinomis last _ib._ Kriton and Euthyphron come immediately after Apology. The intermediate dialogues present no convincing grounds for any determinate order 408 CHAPTER IX. Apology of Sokrates. The Apology is the real defence delivered by Sokrates before the Dikasts, reported by Plato, without intentional transformation 410 Even if it be Plato's own composition, it comes naturally first in the review of his dialogues 411 General character of the Apology--Sentiments entertained towards Sokrates at Athens 412 Declaration from the Delphian oracle respecting the wisdom of Sokrates, interpreted by him as a mission to cross-examine the citizens generally--The oracle is proved to be true 413 False persuasion of wisdom is universal--the God alone is wise 414 Emphatic assertion by Sokrates of the cross-examining mission imposed upon him by the God _ib._ He had devoted his life to the execution of this mission, and he intended to persevere in spite of obloquy or danger 416 He disclaims the function of a teacher--he cannot teach, for he is not wiser than others. He differs from others by being conscious of his own ignorance _ib._ He does not know where competent teachers can be found. He is perpetually seeking for them, but in vain 417 Impression made by the Platonic Apology on Zeno the Stoic 418