In Timaeus-Critias, a long framing introduction is devoted to give the Atlantis story the appearance of being «absolutely true», as Critias claims. Plato had to answer several questions about memory and oblivion: why was this story forgotten by almost all men? nevertheless, why is it known by the only Critias? how can he remember it if he heard it once, eighty years previously? Plato creates skillful devices, which are better understood considering the internal logic of the Utopian literature. Actually, similar strategies about memory and oblivion are detectable in other fictions claiming their truth (Iliad, Odissey, Iambulus’ tale, Utopia, New Atlantis).
Finzioni della memoria e dell'oblio nell'Atlantide di Platone (e in altre utopie: Omero, Giambulo, More, Bacon)
Mosconi G
2019-01-01
Abstract
In Timaeus-Critias, a long framing introduction is devoted to give the Atlantis story the appearance of being «absolutely true», as Critias claims. Plato had to answer several questions about memory and oblivion: why was this story forgotten by almost all men? nevertheless, why is it known by the only Critias? how can he remember it if he heard it once, eighty years previously? Plato creates skillful devices, which are better understood considering the internal logic of the Utopian literature. Actually, similar strategies about memory and oblivion are detectable in other fictions claiming their truth (Iliad, Odissey, Iambulus’ tale, Utopia, New Atlantis).I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
