What if it were only a test?

Remarks on the basanistic hypothesis and the interpretation of Plato’s Dialogues

Abstract

In this paper, I consider a hermeneutic hypothesis regarding Platonic exegesis in order to show that it presents an original response to the problem posed by the critique of the middle-period dialogues in the so-called late dialogues After commenting on some difficulties of Platonic interpretation (section I) and on the existence of different hermeneutic paradigms for interpreting the dialogues, I present the basanistic hypothesis with the aid of two passages from Plato’s Republic. Next, I analyze some of its advantages (section III) and problems (section IV). In the conclusion (section V), I argue for the efficiency of this innovative approach as a tool for reading and interpreting the Dialogues.