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    assigned , not only is not the author himself , but is not even a man of straw , who might be supposed to be the author ' s representative ; but a philosopher of the highest merit and reputation , who had decided and known opinions of his own—the author ' s master , Socrates . It can only be conjectured , with more or less probability , whether any part of these conversations actually took place as alleged ; and if not , how far they were invented as mere specimens of argumentation and inquiry—how far to illustrate the opinions of Socrates—and how far to inculcate those of Plato himself . The difficulties of arriving at any certain solution , are further complicated by the preference which is shown in most

    of the dialogues for overthrowing the various doctrines already in vogue , rather than for setting up any others in their room ; and the frequent use of that * irony' for which Socrates was celebrated , and which super / adds to the doubt whether the entire discourse has any serious purpose , a still further question how much of the particular passage is intended to be taken seriously .

    If we might be permitted to mention the hypothesis respecting Plato ' s own opinions and purposes , which appears to ourselves the most probable , it is one which has been suggested to us by a little essay of the celebrated Schleiermacher , on the Character of Socrates as a Philosopher ; a translation of which , with the addition of some valuable remarks , has recently been put forth by one of the few genuine scholars of whom our country can still boast , the Rev . Connop Thirlwall , in his 4

    periodical work , the Philological Museum / published at Cambridge . Dr . Schleiermacher ' s view of the nature of the service rendered to philosophy by Socrates , is that it consisted not in the truths which he actually arrived at , but in the improved views which he originated respecting the mode in which truth should be sought : and this appears to us to be , with some modifications , applicable likewise to Plato . No doubt , the disciple pushed his mere inquiries and speculations over a more

    extended surface , and to a much greater depth below the surface , than there is any reason to believe that his master did . But though he continuall y starts most original and valuable ideas , it is seldom that these , when they relate to the results of philosophic inquiry , are stated with an air of conviction , or as if they amounted to fixed opinions . But when the topic under consideration is the proper mode of philosophizingeither the moral spirit in which truth should be sought , or the

    intellectual processes and methods by which it is to be attained ; or when the subject matter is not any particular scientific principle , but knowledge in the abstract , the differences between knowledge and ignorance , and between knowledge and mere opinion ; then the views inculcated are definite and consistent , are always the same , and are put forward with the appearance of earnest and matured belief . Even in treating- of other subjects , and even when the opinions advanced have least the

    semblance of being seriously entertained , the discourse itself has generally a very strong tendency to illustrate the conception which does seem to be really entertained of the nature of some part or other of the process of philosophizing . The inference we would draw is , that , on the science of the Investigation of Science , the theory of the pursuit of truth , Plato had not only satisfied himself that his predecessors were in error , and how % but had also adopted definite views of his own ; while on all of most other subjects , he contented himself with confuting the

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    90 Plato ' s Dialogues ; the Protagoras .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1834, page 90, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2630/page/2/