The eye that listens. Analysis of the central scene of Plato’s Philebus (38C-39c) DOI: 10.2436/20.3001.01.13

Abstract

This paper is an interpretation of the central scene of Plato’s Philebus (38C-
39c). It’s object is to show the importance of this scene in relation to the whole dialogue. The central scene offers an interpretative key of the whole dialogue focused on the clarification of concepts such as perception, judgement, memory and experience. The text shows how the understanding of the central scene, where we find a description of the human vision or perception and the soul, is relevant for a comprehension of the entire dialogue, which aims to determinate human existence on its complexity and also to clarify the proper way to see it or perceive it.

Key words: Plato, Philebus, soul, perception, vision, memory, judgement, experience.