PLATO’S AESTHETICS OF BEAUTY

Abstract

In the fi rst part of the article, the author argues on justifi ed usage of an expression“Plato’s Aesthetics of Beauty”(I). The second part, which is named “Dialectics of Beauty” (II),considers the problem of diversity of aspects of beauty within the dialogue Hippias Major. Inthe third part, or “Anamnestic Acknowledgement of Beauty” (III), Plato’s defi nition of beautyfrom the dialogue Symposium is considered at fi rst. Then, referring to dialogue Theaetetus, it isshown in what way beauty is available to human knowledge. Finally, on the ground of dialoguePhaedrus, it is explained why is so hard for people to take cognizance of beauty itself. Authorfollows the thesis that there is complementarity between early Plato’s interpretation of beauty inthe dialogue Hippias Major and later one in Symposium and Phaedrus; furthermore, that Plato’aesthetics, seen in that light, does articulate ambivalence of beauty and that that is why Plato’saesthetics of beauty represents the integral moment and trial of our philosophical-aestheticalself-understanding.