Commentary on the Republic: the Blindness of Poets
Yitzchok Lowy and I discuss Proclus' explanation of Plato's account of the blindness of Homer and Stesichorus in the Phaedrus. Some highlights:
– Proclus interprets the story of Homer's blindness as an ancient indication of the allegorical nature of his writing
– He sees not only the Timeaus but also the myth of the Phaedrus as retelling the realities also portrayed in the Trojan War
– We see how Proclus continues to draw on passages of Plato that are inspired by Homer.
– We see how Proclus sees Homer and Orpheus as corresponding to Apollo and Dionysus respectively and see in what sense the myths about the poets are "tragic".
– and more .