A new book on Plato you might find valuable

 The notion of  different models of philosophy came up in a couple of your blogs.  There's a new book out  that  addresses precisely this notion.

Roslyn Weiss, Philosophers in the 'Republic': Plato’s Two Paradigms.   Ithaca; London:  Cornell University Press, 2012.  Pp. xi, 236.  ISBN 9780801449741.  $49.95.  

 Here's a link to the Bryn Mawr  classical review of  it

http://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2013/2013-03-33.html