Abstract

COSTA, Ivana. Principios en el Timeo de Platón (48a7-e1). Nova tellus [online]. 2009, vol.27, n.1, pp.109-140. ISSN 0185-3058.

The mail purpose of this paper is to distinguish the different meanings of the term "principle" (archḗ) involved in Timaeus, 48a7-e1, so as to be able to argue, first -against the most accepted opinion-, that in the "second discourse" of Timaeus, the one that begins in 47e, Plato does not abandon the idea of finding "other" principles, different from the intelligent principle settled in the proemium of his speach. And to argue, second, that this seek does not contradict the style and method of the lógos/mûthos eikṓs that Plato is employing in the great majority of the dialogue, but that it is precisely the contrary. It is the dúnamis of the eikós lógos the one which allows our acces to certain principles that cannot be reached with the only consideration of "what occurs by means of intelligence".

Keywords : archḗ; Plato; principles; Timaeus.