Mary Clare Young (Christendom College)
In this paper, I investigate a particular use of myth in Plato’s dialogues by considering the myths of the swansong and the song of the birds of the Procne myth from Phaedo and the cicada myth from Phaedrus. Examining the position of these myths in the dialogues and their innovative presentation reveals how story and song complement philosophical discourse and amplify it by refreshing and stimulating the intellect to pursue truth.
After briefly summarizing the myths, I first discuss how the location of the myths within the dialogues points to their deliberate use to refresh the intellect. The birdsong myths in the Phaedo come between two intense philosophical discussions, providing a pause that allows the mind to rest from difficult mental abstraction. The cicada myth of the Phaedrus also serves as a bridge between discussions and speeches, preparing Phaedrus for the discussion on rhetoric to come (Schenker, 76; Yunis, on Phdr. 259e1). I then argue that Plato and Socrates present the myths in new, paradoxical interpretations and discuss how this transformation may have affected their audience. For instance, the birdsongs lose their typical interpretation as songs of grief; the swansong becomes a song of joy. These songs and their stories further captivate minds and initiates enquiry into the philosophical truth of the work.
Finally, I conclude with a general discussion of the appropriateness of song and story in philosophical dialogue, touching on the μουσική composed by Socrates in his final days. A good philosopher, I argue, uses both story—μύθος—and dialogue—λόγος—to convey the truth, sometimes with μουσική. Myths and songs are not incompatible with philosophy; rather they complement each other.
While this may be only one use of myth in Plato, this discussion hopes to provide insight into one way in which Plato and Socrates use the power of story and song to aid the λόγος of dialogue and to convey the lessons they wish to teach in a forceful and memorable manner.