The Republic, Philebus, Sophist, Politicus, Symposium, and Protagoras are called "Dialogues." They were all written by the Greek philosopher Plato.,end italics,
from ,begin bold,The Dialogues of Plato,end bold,
The Republic of Plato is the longest of his works with the exception of the Laws, and is certainly the greatest of them. There are nearer approaches to modern metaphysics in the Philebus and in the Sophist; the Politicus or Statesman is more ideal; the form and institutions of the State are more clearly drawn out in the Laws; as works of art, the Symposium and the Protagoras are of higher excellence. But no other Dialogue of Plato has the same largeness of view and the same perfection of style; no other shows an equal knowledge of the world, or contains more of those thoughts which are new as well as old, and not of one age only but of all. Nowhere in Plato is there a deeper irony or a greater wealth of humour or imagery, or more dramatic power. Nor in any other of his writings is the attempt made to interweave life and speculation, or to connect politics with philosophy.
(from ,begin underline,The Dialogues of Plato,end underline, by Benjamin Jowett)
Question
In the passage, the author argues that the Republic is the greatest of Plato's Dialogues.
Which statement describes how the author develops this central idea?
Answer options with 4 options
1.
He lists various weaknesses of other Dialogues and contrasts each to a strength of Republic.
2.
He evaluates numerous characteristics of all the Dialogues and explains with each one how Republic is superior.
3.
He first points out the shortcomings of other Dialogues, and then describes the relative strengths of Republic.
4.
He first acknowledges a few aspects of other Dialogues that are superior, and then lists numerous ways in which Republic is superior.
The correct answer is option 3.
In the passage, the author first points out the near approaches to modern metaphysics in the Philebus and Sophist, the more ideal nature of the Politicus, the clearer drawing out of the form and institutions of the state in the Laws, and the higher excellence as works of art in the Symposium and the Protagoras. Then, the author states that while these Dialogues may have their strengths, none of them possess the same largeness of view and perfection of style as the Republic. This structure of first acknowledging the strengths of other Dialogues and then describing the relative strengths of the Republic supports option 3.