Plato and the Other Companions of Sokrates, 3rd ed. Volume 2
Plato · en
[Footnote 45: Aristot. Ethic. Nikom. iii. p. 1115, 1119; also Ethic.
Eudem. iii. 1229-1231.
The comments of Aristotle upon the doctrine of Sokrates respecting
Courage seem to relate rather to the Protagoras than to the Lachês of
Plato. See Eth. Nik. 1116, 6, 4; Eth. Eud. 1229, a. 15.]
APPENDIX.
The dialogue Charmidês is declared to be spurious, not only by Ast,
but also by Socher (Ast, Platon's Leb. pp. 419-428; Socher, Ueber
Platon, pp. 130-137). Steinhart maintains the genuineness of the
dialogue against them; declaring (as in regard to the Lachês) that he
can hardly conceive how critics can mistake the truly Platonic
character of it, though here too, as in the Lachês, he detects
"adolescentiæ vestigia" (Steinhart, Einleit. zum Charmidês,
pp. 290-293).
Schleiermacher considers Charmidês as well as Lachês to be appendixes
to the Protagoras, which opinion both Stallbaum (Proleg. ad Charm, p.
121; Proleg. ad Lachet. p. 30, 2nd ed.) and Steinhart controvert.
The views of Stallbaum respecting the Charmidês are declared by
Steinhart (p. 290) to be "recht äusserlich und oberflächlich". To me
they appear much nearer the truth than the profound and recondite
meanings, the far-sighted indirect hints, which Steinhart himself
perceives or supposes in the words of Plato.
These critics consider the dialogue as composed during the government
of the Thirty at Athens, in which opinion I do not concur.
CHAPTER XX.
LYSIS.
[Side-note: Analogy between Lysis and Charmidês. Richness of
dramatic incident in both. Youthful beauty.]
The Lysis, as well as the Charmidês, is a dialogue recounted by
Sokrates himself, describing both incidents and a conversation in a
crowded Palæstra; wherein not merely bodily exercises were habitually
practised, but debate was carried on and intellectual instruction
given by a Sophist named Mikkus, companion and admirer of Sokrates.
There is a lively dramatic commencement, introducing Sokrates into
the Palæstra, and detailing the preparation and scenic arrangements,
before the real discussion opens. It is the day of the Hermæa, or
festival of Hermes, celebrated by sacrifice and its accompanying
banquets among the frequenters of gymnasia.
[Side-note: Scenery and personages of the Lysis.]