De Apologia Socratis Platonica in Isocratis Antidosi Resonante – Bonae Inter Duos Illos Auctores Consensionis Testimonio

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine the references to Plato’s Apology found in Isocrates’ Antidosis. The author presents a record of the passages of Isocrates’ speech that are indicated by commentators as referring to the above-mentioned Plato’s work. Although some of these indications are shown to be wrong, Platonic thoughts as expressed in the Apology are evidently present in many places of Isocrates’ work. The aim of this paper is to explain what were Isocrates’ reasons for referring to Plato in his speech. The author rejects the opinions of some commentators who claim that Isocrates treated Plato with scorn or, to the contrary, wanted to become a Platonic philosopher himself. A different explanation is proposed, namely that these mentions reveal Isocrates’ reverence for Plato and may be considered as an offer to establish a common front against sophistic and rhetorical demagogy of that time.