critical thinking - dialectical reasoning, page-98

The process of dialectical exchange appears to have originated with Plato.... I don't think he ever meant for 'dialectic' to be conceptualised or for it to be represented as a philosophy or evolving into a doctrine.

To me dialectic is simply a process, a way of exchanging ideas which eventuates in increased understanding, not even necessarily an arrival towards a conclusion or truth.

Of all Plato's work 'Phaedrus' and the 'allegory of the charioteer' is the most interesting to me. John Uebersax provides a structure for easy reference to study Plato's work and offers his interpretation which is quite interesting. http://www.john-uebersax.com/plato/plato3.htm

Parallels can be drawn between Plato's 'Charioteer, the Dark horse and the White horse' and conceptualisation of a 'tripartate soul' (in 'Republic'); and Freuds 'structural model of the psyche' which includes the Id, the Ego and the Superego. Plato's work it would seem is highly relevant to Psychology of the 21st Century, since both Plato and Freud emphasise that conflict between any of these component parts of our psyche / mind leads to disharmony and discontent....