Plato's Socrates : dialectical method as techne

Abstract

This thesis aims to investigate how Plato in his dialogues through the Socratic character treats the method of dialectic as being some kind of techné. On the grounds of Plato’s dialogues, the inquiry begins by enumerating the defining features of techné which define it as such. Truth, rationality, dealing with a definite subject matter, being useful as well as teachable are among those defining elements of techné. The definition of techné we find in the Platonic dialogues is recognized through the criticism directed to the figures which claim to possess techné and play quite an important role in education practiced at that time. For the criticism raised against the sophists, we will refer to the Protagoras and Gorgias, and for the criticism raised against the poets, we will refer to the Ion, Republic and Symposium. Besides, the criticism provided for written texts as a form of education in the Phaedrus will also be mentioned. This criticism is also quite important because of the way in which it highlights the meaning and superiority of the dialectical method. After the presentations of those criticisms, by appealing to the Parmenides, Theaetetus and Sophists, we will try to demonstrate how Plato through Socrates approaches the method of dialectic as a techné which is learnable and teachable..