145

Logic IV. 151

course was open to him but to acknowledge the justice of the criticism; although he might justly contend that there were difficulties with the contrary doctrine, too. And he could an dout to insinuate [the truth?] that it was under his own influence that Aristotle had been led to the new views he was not putting forward. For there was little to suggest them in the philosophy of his eminent countryman Democritus, in which Aristotle had presumably been reared.* Plato could not, however, very gracefully say that bluntly; and besides his whole fastidious taste revolved against bringing personality unveiled into philosophy. Nor would he dream of altering his whole habit of writing on the occasion of this excessively young fellow's objections. Quite the contrary, he wished to make it comprehended that the new step was but the happy [bursting?] of a bud upon his rose-tree of philosophy, and no revolution. Thus, then, both form an matter of the Parmenidies are well explained; and I will accordingly suppose it was written in Syracuse in or

*It is a mistake to suppose that Stagira was in Macedonia. It is about 60 miles from [Abdera?]. Aristotle's references to Democritus are numerous and always respectful