Images of Persons Unseen

This book presents the first comprehensive study of Platonic imagery written in the light of modern approaches to metaphor. Through close analysis of Platonic texts the author seeks both to advance interpretation of the dialogues and to promote understanding of the cognitive functions of metaphor and imagery - aspects of language long dismissed as merely ornamental. Three emerging positions on metaphor's capacities - the epistemic, illustrative and emotive theses - are applied to Plato's metaphors for the gods and the soul and it is concluded that, while some of these metaphors play an illustrative role, others become an integral and irreplaceable element in Platonic theory.