batch.motif.greek-plato-phaedrus-jowett-gutenberg-l718-l802
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-plato-phaedrus-jowett-gutenberg-l718-l802
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/phaedrus-jowett.md
passage_locator:
label: Phaedrus / PHAEDRUS / INTRODUCTION.; lines 718-802
start: '718'
end: '802'
translation: Phaedrus
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: The passage summarizes and interprets Plato's image of the soul as a charioteer
with two winged steeds, discusses the soul's former vision of truth, its transmigration
through human and animal forms, its struggle with desire, and compares the chariot
image cautiously with a chariot scene in Parmenides.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The soul is described as self-moved and as the source of motion in other things.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Souls of gods and humans are described under the figure of two winged steeds
and a charioteer.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: The passage identifies the charioteer with reason, the black horse with sensual
or concupiscent nature, and the white horse with rational impulse.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: The charioteer-and-steeds image is said to have been compared with a similar
image in Parmenides.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: The passage says that Parmenides' horses have no allegorical meaning in that
comparison.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: The triple soul is said to have had a previous existence, following in the
train of a god and seeing a partial vision of absolute truth.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: The soul's later existence is described as passing through many forms of humans
and animals while trying to regain the vision of truth.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:8
text: Animal desires of the inferior steed hinder the soul's progress.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: The soul repeatedly sees the flashing beauty of the beloved, but animal desires
must be subjected before the vision can be finally enjoyed.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:10
text: The moral or spiritual element is represented by an immortal steed that sides
with reason.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:11
text: The passage says the horses of the gods are both white and that their impulses
are in harmony with reason.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:12
text: The passage discusses love as a madness and associates this with inspiration,
imagination, idealism, or communion with God.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: the soul
description: Described as self-moved, as a source of motion, as tripartite in the
chariot figure, and as having a former existence.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: charioteer
description: A figure in the image of the soul with two winged steeds; the passage
says the charioteer represents reason.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: black horse
description: A horse in the chariot image; the passage calls it the symbol of the
sensual or concupiscent element of human nature.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: white horse
description: A horse in the chariot image; the passage says it represents rational
impulse and is associated with honour, modesty, temperance, and true glory.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:8
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: some god
description: A god whose train the soul formerly followed and from whom the soul
derived its character.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: the beloved
description: The beloved whose flashing beauty is repeatedly beheld by the soul.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Parmenides' poet
description: The passage describes the poet as approaching in a chariot to regions
of light and the house of the goddess of truth.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: goddess of truth
description: A goddess whose house is approached by the poet in the Parmenides comparison.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
roles:
- id: role:1
label: self-moving source of motion
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The soul is described as self-moved and as the source of motion in all other
things.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: reasoning guide
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The passage says the charioteer represents reason.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:3
label: sensual or concupiscent element
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The passage says the black horse symbolizes the sensual or concupiscent element
of human nature.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:4
label: seeker of regained truth
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The soul's later existence is described as spent in regaining a former partial
vision of absolute truth.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:5
label: rational or moral impulse
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The white horse is described as rational impulse and as siding with reason
in the later discussion of the immortal steed.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:8
- id: role:6
label: divine source of character
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The soul is said to have followed in the train of a god from whom it derived
its character.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:7
label: object of beautiful vision
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The soul repeatedly beholds the flashing beauty of the beloved.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:8
label: chariot traveler toward light
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The passage describes the poet's approach in a chariot to regions of light
and the house of the goddess of truth.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:9
label: dweller in house of truth
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The comparison passage names the house of the goddess of truth as the destination
of the chariot approach.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: charioteer and winged steeds
literal_form: two winged steeds and a charioteer
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: sym:2
label: black horse
literal_form: black horse
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:3
label: white horse
literal_form: white horse or immortal steed
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:8
- id: sym:4
label: vision of absolute truth
literal_form: partial and imperfect vision of absolute truth
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:5
label: flashing beauty of the beloved
literal_form: flashing beauty of the beloved
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:6
label: chariot approach to light
literal_form: a chariot approaching regions of light and the house of the goddess
of truth
associated_figures:
- fig:7
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Soul imaged as charioteer and two steeds
summary: The soul is represented by a charioteer with two winged steeds; the passage
interprets these as reason, sensual desire, and rational or moral impulse.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:2
label: Former vision and later recovery
summary: The soul formerly followed a god and partly beheld absolute truth; its
later existence through human and animal forms is spent attempting to regain this
vision.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:3
label: Conflict with desire before beauty
summary: The soul repeatedly beholds the beloved's beauty, but the inferior steed's
animal desires must be humbled and subjected before the vision can be enjoyed.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: scene:4
label: Parmenides chariot comparison
summary: The passage reports a comparison with Parmenides, where a poet approaches
in a chariot to regions of light and the house of the goddess of truth, but the
horses are said not to be allegorical.
figure_refs:
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:5
label: Gods' harmonious horses
summary: The passage says the gods' horses are both white and that their impulses
are harmonious with reason.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: chariot allegory of the divided soul
taxonomy_refs:
- duality
basis: The soul is imaged as a charioteer with two winged steeds, with the horses
representing opposed or differing impulses and the charioteer representing reason.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:8
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage emphasizes a threefold psychology, while the available taxonomy
term 'duality' only partially fits the two-horse opposition.
- id: motif:2
label: soul's preexistent vision and recovery of truth
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
- mystical_quest
basis: The soul has a previous existence, partly beholds absolute truth, and spends
later existence attempting to regain it.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:11
confidence: medium
cautions: The terms 'wisdom' and 'mystical_quest' are broad taxonomy matches; the
passage frames the issue philosophically rather than as a narrative quest.
- id: motif:3
label: transmigration through human and animal forms
taxonomy_refs:
- death_rebirth
basis: The passage describes the soul's after-existence as passing through many
forms of humans and animals and later refers to Plato's possible doctrine of transmigration.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:12
confidence: low
cautions: The passage names transmigration, but the available taxonomy lacks a precise
transmigration motif; 'death_rebirth' is only an approximate family.
- id: motif:4
label: ascent or journey by chariot toward truth and light
taxonomy_refs:
- ascent
- wisdom
basis: In the comparison to Parmenides, a chariot approaches regions of light and
the house of the goddess of truth.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: This motif belongs to the compared Parmenides image as described in this
passage, not necessarily to Plato's allegorical horses.
- id: motif:5
label: love as inspired madness
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_beloved
basis: The passage discusses love as madness and connects it with inspiration, imagination,
idealism, or communion with God; it also describes repeated vision of the beloved's
beauty.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:10
confidence: low
cautions: The beloved is not explicitly called divine in the passage; the taxonomy
match is therefore tentative.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The charioteer-and-steeds image in the Phaedrus has been compared with a
chariot image in Parmenides, but the passage distinguishes their functions because
Parmenides' horses are said to lack allegorical meaning.
claim_level: visual_similarity
target: Parmenides' chariot approach to the regions of light and the house of the
goddess of truth
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
counter_evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
limitations: The passage supports only a visual or imagistic comparison and explicitly
rejects the same allegorical function for Parmenides' horses.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 718-720
quote_or_summary: The soul is described as self-moved and as the source of motion
in all other things.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/phaedrus-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 721-725
quote_or_summary: The passage turns to the image of the souls of gods and humans
as two winged steeds and a charioteer.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/phaedrus-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 726-735
quote_or_summary: The charioteer is identified with reason, the black horse with
sensual or concupiscent nature, and the white horse with rational impulse and
virtues such as honour, modesty, temperance, and true glory.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/phaedrus-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 736-742
quote_or_summary: The charioteer-and-steeds image is compared with Parmenides, but
the passage says Parmenides' horses are not allegorical and that the poet approaches
in a chariot to regions of light and the house of the goddess of truth.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/phaedrus-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 744-747
quote_or_summary: The triple soul is said to have had a previous existence, to have
followed in the train of a god, and to have partially and imperfectly seen absolute
truth.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/phaedrus-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 747-751
quote_or_summary: The soul's after-existence passes through many forms of humans
and animals and is spent regaining the vision, while animal desires of the inferior
steed hinder it.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/phaedrus-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 751-754
quote_or_summary: The soul repeatedly beholds the flashing beauty of the beloved,
but animal desires must be subjected before that vision can be enjoyed.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/phaedrus-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 756-763
quote_or_summary: The moral or spiritual element is represented by an immortal steed
that sides with reason, though reason and this element are dragged by furious
desire; the way of philosophy is described as abstinence from bodily delights.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/phaedrus-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 786-791
quote_or_summary: The passage says the horses of the gods are both white, and their
every impulse is in harmony with reason.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/phaedrus-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 791-798
quote_or_summary: The passage asks whether Plato is serious in regarding love as
madness and associates such a faculty with genius, inspiration, imagination, idealism,
or communion with God.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/phaedrus-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 769-780
quote_or_summary: The passage describes Plato's concern with abstract knowledge,
an inner unseen world, and the attempt to regain saving knowledge of the ideas.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/phaedrus-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:12
type: summary
locator: lines 782-785
quote_or_summary: The passage says Plato may have been serious in his reminiscence
of a former state of being and perhaps in his doctrine of transmigration.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/phaedrus-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: Extraction is based directly on the supplied passage. Motif taxonomy matches
are sometimes approximate because the passage is philosophical commentary rather
than a mythic narrative.
reviewer_status:
status: needs_review
reviewer: ''
reviewed_at: ''
notes: Machine-generated draft from OpenAI Batch; not human-reviewed.
extracted_by: openai_batch:gpt-5.5
extracted_at: '2026-04-28'
notes: |-
No external sources were used. Comparisons are limited to the Parmenides comparison explicitly stated in the passage.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-plato-phaedrus-jowett-gutenberg__l718-l802
passage_sha256=795460bbe11759199bc980c10194c6f30283b4084eba38e75814fa9d948c11aa