Guthrie : Life of Plato and philosophical influences

But more than anything else Plato was moved by that pathetic and mistaken shame which the naturally theoretical and contemplative spirit feels at failing to meet a challenge to action for which it is, in fact, entirely unsuited. This, and a feeling that to refuse would be a betrayal of his friendship with Dion who, he thought, might be in actual danger from his enemies at Syracuse, constituted his chief motives for ‘leaving my own not discreditable occupations and submitting myself to a tyranny which seemed unlikely to fit in either with my teaching or with myself’ (329b).

On arrival Plato found a situation about as unfavourable to philosophic education as could be. Dionysius was surrounded by an atmosphere of faction and of slanders against Dion, who finally, four months after Plato’s arrival, was accused of conspiracy and expelled from Sicily. For Plato on the other hand Dionysius developed a jealous affection, and tried to displace Dion in his regard. But the one course by which he might have succeeded, namely by putting himself seriously and willingly under Plato’s instruction in philosophy, he could not bring himself to follow, and in the end he was persuaded to allow Plato to return to Athens. Sicily was at war (338a),[49] and it was agreed that both Plato and Dion himself should return when things were quieter and safer. Meanwhile Dion joined Plato and the Academy in Athens (Plut. Dion 17).

This, according to the usual dating, was in 365, and for the next four years Plato was once more engaged in philosophical activity teaching and writing - in the Academy. Then Dionysius sent yet another pressing invitation, though at the same time asking Plato to agree that Dion’s recall should be postponed for another year. Dion added his own entreaties, and all reports agreed that Dionysius was now possessed by a genuine desire for philosophy. Plato however was unwilling, and replied that he was an old man and in any case Dionysius had not fulfilled their agreement. However, the pressure was increased. As evidence of his zeal, Dionysius had collected some philosophers at his court, who held discussions with him on the erroneous assumption that he had already undergone instruction from Plato. In Plato’s view (338d) he combined a genuine talent for learning with a εonsuming ambition to be well thought of. He now felt ashamed that he had not taken more advantage of Plato’s previous presence, and feared that a refusal on Plato’s part would look as if Plato thought little of his gifts and disapproved of his way of life. He therefore enlisted the philosophers to testify to the genuineness of his progress in philosophy, his trump card being Archytas, the Pythagorean philosopher-statesman from Tarentum. For Archytas and his circle Plato felt great respect and warm friendship, and he had himself brought them and Dionysius together (338d). The combined efforts of all his friends were too much for him, and he went back to Sicily for a third time in 361,[50] though all that the Straits of Messene now suggested to him was the awful perils of Scylla and Charybdis (345e).

W.K.C. Guthrie, Life of Plato and philosophical influences

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