Single Idea 3324

[catalogued under 19. Language / F. Communication / 1. Rhetoric]

Full Idea

Plato is liable to the charge of having been duped by a figure of speech, albeit the most profound of all, the trope of reification.

Gist of Idea

Plato's whole philosophy may be based on being duped by reification - a figure of speech

Source

comment on Plato (works [c.375 BCE]) by José A. Benardete - Metaphysics: the logical approach Ch.12

Book Reference

Benardete,José A.: 'Metaphysics: The Logical Approach' [OUP 1989], p.81


A Reaction

That might be a plausible account if his view was ridiculous, but given how many powerful friends Plato has, especially in the philosophy of mathematics, we should assume he was cleverer than that.