The Role of the Old Interlocutors in Plato's Dialogue. A New Philosophical Meaning of Old Age

This paper highlights the platonic conception of old age as very different from the traditional one. In order to demostrate it, the Parmenides and the Laws will be analyzed as key texts to understand the new philosophical meaning of old age that finds his main characterization in connection with young age. The topic of old age will be discussed along with youth training and the birth of the philosopher as a “result” of a proper philosophical education. At length, well-educated youths will be able to become philosophers who, in turn, will evolve into masters of others