The function of the child is to live his own life - not the life that his anxious parents think he should live.
Alexander Sutherland NeillRead
Plato used the dialogue format because the exchange of views, the posing and answering of questions, showed that understanding is a living, dynamic process. He distrusted writing because the settled character of the written word makes it look as if truth can be fixed and made to stand still. It is worth remembering that this greatest advocate of the objective reality of truth also believed that our access to that truth was sustained in reasoned discussion.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Plato favored dialogue for exploring truth as a dynamic process, distrusting writing for its static nature.
This quote conveys the belief that true understanding and knowledge emerge from vibrant exchanges of ideas and questions, as exemplified in Plato's dialogues. It highlights the philosopher's skepticism towards written words, which can give a false impression of fixed truths, emphasizing instead that the pursuit of understanding is inherently fluid and reliant on active discourse.
Themes
PlatoDialogueTruthUnderstandingWritingPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about education reform, one might cite this quote to advocate for the importance of discussion over standardized tests.
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