Ascèse, contemplation et dialectique définitionnelle dans le portrait du philosophe du Théétète

A structural study of the digression concerning the philosopher (Theaetetus, 172c-174a) should allow a better understanding of the meaning that Plato grants to contemplative asceticism and his method of reviewing the discussions of prior dialogues and ancient philosophic traditions. The progress in three parts of the extract reveals that the author follows a precise methodology, from philosophers as members of the chorus through the coryphaeuses, to end with a reduction to a unique model with theatrical character. This reduction operates through a double plan : positively with the contemplative asceticism and negatively with the neighbouring theme of the philosophic ridiculousness. Such a method of integration by reduction is truly dialectical. Plato seems thus to summarize a definitional research on the Philosopher, announced at the beginning of the Sophist, but not represented by a complete dialogue comparable to the Sophist and the Statesman.