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In his speech in Plato’s Symposium (189c2–193d5), Aristophanes praises erōs as the healer of human nature (189c9; 191d3; 193d5): by leading us to the missing part that belongs to us (the oikeion, 193d2), erōs can ultimately help to restore our original nature (archaia phusis, 191d1–2; 192e9; 193c5; 193d4). Interestingly, Plato uses the term archaia phusis twice in his dialogues to express his own positive doctrine: in the Glaucus passage in Republic X, (611b1–612a7: 611c7–d1) and in the ethical culmination of the Timaeus (90a2–d7: 90d5). The origins of the term are probably to be sought in Hippocratic medicine, where archaia phusis denotes the body’s state ‘before the illness and in accordance with nature’ (Erotianus, Sunagōgē). Plato adopts and adapts the term to conceptualize the soul’s temporally prior condition of excellence which serves as a normative standard for its restoration.

In my paper, I wish to throw light on Plato’s use of this hitherto scarcely explored concept, and compare its role in the Republic and Timaeus. In particular, I wish to point out an important difference between the two passages: while in Republic X, the concept is employed in a discussion of the (rational) soul’s complete return to its disembodied and fully purified condition (‘transcendent restoration’), the Timaeus focuses on what is achievable in the here and now (‘immanent restoration’). By describing the correct therapy (90c6) of the rational part as an ordering of the soul in accordance with (kata) its archaia phusis (90d5), Plato retains the original nature’s character as the guiding normative standard, while at the same time making it clear that this state can only be realized ‘as far as possible’ (kath’ hoson endechetai, 90c2–3) during our embodied human life.

Hermann Crüwell studied Philosophy, Political Science, Economics, and Sociology at Trinity College Dublin, followed by an MSt Ancient Philosophy in Oxford and an MA Ancient Philosophy in Munich. His Oxford DPhil under the supervision of Dominic Scott is on the topic ‘Archaia Phusis. The Original Nature of the Soul in Plato’s Middle Dialogues.’ After an Ernst-Mach Postdoctoral Fellowship in Vienna, he is currently taking parental leave.