128

Logic IV. 134
influence had evolved the refutation of the theory of ideas. That Parmenides represents Plato is remarkably confirmed by the statemenet that he was 65 years old. Now this was nearly Plato's own age when the dialogue was written. But it is such a manifest anachronism to represent Socrates as disputing with Parmenides when the latter was only 65 years old, that, in order to soften it, and lend it a little verisimilitude, it is said that he looked much older, his hair being [silvery?] and his whole apperance venerable. Socrates is in two other dialogues of Plato represented as daving met Parmenides in his youth. But Plato would, judging from the Republic, have [struck?] at a downright lie in the supposed interest of philosophy; and a dialogue such as his is not a historical statement. One of the [three] dialogues in which the assertion is made is this one, which does not count. Another is the Theaetutus and at the time that was writing this one may very likely have been [conjected?]. The third is The Sophist written shortly