@article{ART003244303},
author={Kang, Sung-Hoon},
title={The White Horse and the Black Horse in the Phaedrus},
journal={Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University},
issn={1598-3021},
year={2025},
volume={82},
number={3},
pages={7-51},
doi={10.17326/jhsnu.82.3.202508.7}
TY - JOUR
AU - Kang, Sung-Hoon
TI - The White Horse and the Black Horse in the Phaedrus
JO - Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University
PY - 2025
VL - 82
IS - 3
PB - Institute of Humanities, Seoul National University
SP - 7
EP - 51
SN - 1598-3021
AB - The allegory of the charioteer, the white horse, and the black horse in the Phaedrus has traditionally been regarded as representing the rational, the spirited, and the appetitive parts of the soul in the Republic. This tradition originates with ancient Platonists, who interpreted Plato fundamentally within a framework that contrasted reason and desire. The identification of the charioteer and the two horses with the three parts of the soul also arose from this interpretive framework. However, if we pay attention to the specific details presented in the text, there are more discrepancies than similarities between the tripartite theory of the soul and the allegory of the charioteer and the two horses. Moreover, there are quite a few indicators suggesting that Plato did not intend to identify the two. In order to understand what Plato intended to express with the allegory of the charioteer and the two horses, we should note that this allegory appears in Socrates’ second speech, which is a “palinode” that corrects his first speech. The first speech actually presents a direct contrast between reason and desire, and the allegory of the charioteer and the two horses is meant to replace that contrast. Both reason and desire are capable of producing either proper or improper motivations: the white horse represents the disposition of aidōs, which produces proper motivations, while the black horse represents the disposition of hubris, which produces improper motivations.
KW - White Horse;Black Horse;Internal Conflict;Aidōs;Hubris
DO - 10.17326/jhsnu.82.3.202508.7
ER -
Kang, Sung-Hoon. (2025). The White Horse and the Black Horse in the Phaedrus. Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University, 82(3), 7-51.
Kang, Sung-Hoon. 2025, "The White Horse and the Black Horse in the Phaedrus", Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University, vol.82, no.3 pp.7-51. Available from: doi:10.17326/jhsnu.82.3.202508.7
Kang, Sung-Hoon "The White Horse and the Black Horse in the Phaedrus" Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University 82.3 pp.7-51 (2025) : 7.
Kang, Sung-Hoon. The White Horse and the Black Horse in the Phaedrus. 2025; 82(3), 7-51. Available from: doi:10.17326/jhsnu.82.3.202508.7
Kang, Sung-Hoon. "The White Horse and the Black Horse in the Phaedrus" Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University 82, no.3 (2025) : 7-51.doi: 10.17326/jhsnu.82.3.202508.7
Kang, Sung-Hoon. The White Horse and the Black Horse in the Phaedrus. Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University, 82(3), 7-51. doi: 10.17326/jhsnu.82.3.202508.7
Kang, Sung-Hoon. The White Horse and the Black Horse in the Phaedrus. Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University. 2025; 82(3) 7-51. doi: 10.17326/jhsnu.82.3.202508.7
Kang, Sung-Hoon. The White Horse and the Black Horse in the Phaedrus. 2025; 82(3), 7-51. Available from: doi:10.17326/jhsnu.82.3.202508.7
Kang, Sung-Hoon. "The White Horse and the Black Horse in the Phaedrus" Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University 82, no.3 (2025) : 7-51.doi: 10.17326/jhsnu.82.3.202508.7
