Instead, the whole text is presented as told by socrates as he recalls the event. Yet in this banishment plato establishes the boundaries of reason, art and poetry boundaries that have haunted western thinkers since antiquity. The ideal republic will consist of three classes of citizens. From war, the dialogue telescopes more closely on the security of the state, its guardians. In book iii of the republic, plato continues his discourse on guardians 373d374e as well as other roles that make up a society. I recommend to anyone who has little experience of philosophy or plato s writing not to skip this section. In the third book of the republic a nearer approach is made to a theory of art than anywhere else in plato.
Socrates continues the political measures of the censorship of poetry. Plato attempts to answer such questions by noting a major. In order to educate guardians so they can gain the necessary character traits, he notes the importance of music and poetry, with an emphasis on simplicity of style. The republic, book i plato note that i have added name indicators to identify whose words are being communicated throughout the dialogue. Jan 21, 2012 the republics overall argument for censorship thus combines a particular conception of morality with religion and authoritarian politics. To have a good society, we must have good citizens. The republic quotes from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Therefore the guardian must be a lover of learning, a philosopher, educated from childhood in music and poetry, then given physical training. It is generally accepted that the republic belongs to the dialogues of platos. Plato here prescribes for all the guardians, or military class, the normal greek education in music and gymnastics, purged of what he considers its errors. Our story begins as socrates and his friend glaucon head home from a festival. Written at a level understandable to undergraduates, it is ideal for students and other readers who have little or no background in philosophy or political theory.
In the republic, plato makes a systematic case for censoring all arts. Since the midnineteenth century, the republic has been platos most famous and widely read dialogue. It is platos bestknown work, and has proven to be one of the worlds most influential works of philosophy and political theory, both intellectually and. Socrates, and hence socrates puppetmaster plato, have very specific ideas about the function of literature, to teach and the importance of censorship.
This explains platos references to the ideas of the godhead as the gods or god. Platos ethics and politics in the republic stanford encyclopedia of. Decharme, euripides and the spirit of his dramas, translated by james loeb, chap. This edition has a really helpful introduction section which goes through each of the books that make up plato s republic. Plato book ii of the republic on censorship aesthetics today. Plato laments the hollow lifeless nature of the written word, in the phaedrus, complaining that one cannot interrogate a book. The book is the record of a dialogue between socrates and several other athenians about the. These illuminate the reader as to what to expect and give great insight into the concepts of the republic as a whole. Plato on censoring artists a summary stephen hicks, ph. In my philosophy of art course, we are discussing platos philosophy of art, by means of selections from statesman and books 3 greekms and 10 of the. Then the first thing will be to establish a censorship of the writers of fiction, and let the censors receive any. The republic has been divided into the following sections.
In defense of platos republic march 2, 2017 september 30, 2018 by joseph g. Book summary the major intent of the debate in the republic is to determine an extended definition of what constitutes justice in a given state, whether or not a concept of justice may be determined by citizens in a given state at the time that plato is writing, and how justice may be accomplished in a given state how laws might be enacted that would serve the citizens of a just state in. After socrates asks his host what it is like being old 328de and rich 330drather rude, we might thinkcephalus says that the best thing about wealth is that it can save us from being unjust and thus smooth the way for an. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. List of books and articles about platos republic online. Readers here should be sure to coordinate platos remarks on poetry with the commentary in book 3, which constitutes the first phase of the discussion as the discussion unfolds in book 10, it turns out socratess most forceful charge against poetry is it is. This education is most often noted for its carefully censored reading list. The republic quotes from litcharts the creators of.
A guide to platos republic provides an integral interpretation of the republic which is accessible even to readers approaching platos masterwork for the first time. Socrates believes he has adequately responded to thrasymachus and is through with the discussion of justice, but the others are not satisfied with the conclusion they have reached. Glaucon, one of socratess young companions, explains what they would like him to do. True art is not fanciful and imitative, but simple and ideal,the expression of the highest moral energy, whether in action or repose. In the republic, plato plays around with the argument that it is better to be just than unjust. Platos lie in the soul ancient history encyclopedia. A guardian needs to be gentle to his own people, but harsh to others.
The production of censorship in platos republic, by ramona a. Platos republic and modern myths of gender, while in 1994, nancy tuana published a collective work entitled feminist interpretations of plato. But the republic is one of those books that is capable of resurrecting the soul of its author, with each new reading. Censorship in platos republic in the republic, plato plays around with the argument that it is better to be just than unjust. Plato famously banishes the poets from his ideal city in book x of his republic. Value of truth censorship and noble falsehood in platos republic. Plato book ii of the republic on censorship books ii and iii of the republic are notoriously difficult to teach. This idea of the censorship of the arts is continued in book iii. Ramona naddaffs reading of platos republic explicitly challenges two simple but nevertheless common, and therefore powerful, objections to the treatment of poetry in this dialogue. In this article i will explore those platonic boundaries, specifically the intellectual limits of poetic writing as reflected upon by selfidentified platonist alain badiou. Notice that already socrates emphasizes the importance of education and. The task of the platonic philosopher is to take up the ancient quarrel between philosophy and poetry 607b and.
In book two, socrates, thrasymachus and adeimantus decide to focus on a. In this hypothetical city he creates a censored educational system and abolishes the typical family structure in hopes that the society would be just. And i suppose the best argument against censorship is the fact that we simply dont know what effects art has on us and can thus scarcely judge. Let us imagine it is 381 bce, and plato is researching for his new book about a hypothetical republic. According to plato, there are three parts of the soul, each with its own object of desire. The republic classics of moral and political theory. As in most other platonic dialogues the main character is socrates. Platos the republic is one of the more widely read works of philosophy of all time. A brief digression occurs when glaucon objects to the austerity of socrates state.
A guide to plato s republic provides an integral interpretation of the republic which is accessible even to readers approaching plato s masterwork for the first time. Basing his artful dialogue on the ideas of his teacher socrates, plato avoids much direct discussion. Socrates believed that poetrystories and art are imitations and is therefore not good. Trabbic for socrates, the city isnt only an arbitrarily chosen device for illuminating the souls mysteries but an essential means for creating and sustaining justice and the other virtues in the soul. First, there is the liberal objection virtually every teacher of the republic encounters from one or more. The republics overall argument for censorship thus combines a particular conception of morality with religion and authoritarian politics. This article, however, focuses on the ethics and politics of platos republic. David sachs, in his influential article a fallacy in platos republic, argues. In these strange and unpredictable times i was drawn to platos the republic for the first time in the hope that some wisdom might prevail. The internet classics archive the republic by plato. His vessel for showing this is through the forming of an ideal city.
Ready to call it a night, theyre intercepted by a whole gang of their acquaintances, who eventually convince them to come hang out at polemarchuss house and have a nice, long chat. The greek name of the dialogue is politeia, which is the standard word for constitution or ordering of the political structure. Book 2 quotes then the first thing will be to establish a censorship of the writers of fiction, and let the censors receive any tale of fiction which is good, and reject the bad. At the beginning of book 10, socrates returns to his frontal assault on the status and role of poetry in the ideal state. So in many places socrates refers to what others are saying. Plato acknowledges that many of the arts exhibit both figurative allegorical and literal meanings, but he argues that young children cannot always make distinctions between things literal and figurative. His line of thought raises questions such as, how do you know whether your most deeplyheld beliefs are valid or simply the result of your upbringing, culture, environment, and religion. Plato s the republic is one of the more widely read works of philosophy of all time.
To become a good guardian, a man must be by nature fast, strong, and a spirited philosopher. Censorship is the subject of several dialogues in the republic, the major work of greek philosopher plato. The republic is platos bestknown treatise and has been shown over time to be one of the most influential works of philosophy and theory of politics that has ever been written. His stance is perhaps summarized in book ii of the republic by the phrase that literature may be either true or false, i. Because plato had harshly criticized the athenian democracy, he was accused of being the ancestor of the dictatorships of every kind that became established in europe and asia. The introduction 54k book i 99k book ii 92k book iii 109k book iv 93k book v 112k book vi 95k book vii 92k book viii 92k book ix 76k. The author contrasts platos responses to perennial issues with those of key subsequent thinkers and introduces readers to some of the technical terminology in which philosophy.
Platos criticism of the mythology is anticipated in part by euripides, xenophanes, heracleitus, and pythagoras. Here, i will not take up the question of totalitarianism, relaunched by karl popper. Therefore we must winnow the myths, editing them, and, in some cases, censoring aspects of them. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of the republic and what it means. Plato on censorship the art and popular culture encyclopedia. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. The republic is an exceedingly difficult text to write about. Platos ethics and politics in the republic stanford.
In the republic, however, plato develops a view of happiness and virtue that departs from that of socrates. It is now clear that socrates himself is down in the cave, somewhat against his will, 2 attempting to help the interlocutors turn from the dark of ignorance to the light of knowledge and realize what is. As written by plato, the republic does not have these indicators. Women and children are to be shared in the commons 3. In my philosophy of art course, we are discussing platos philosophy of art, by means of selections from statesman and books 3 and 10 of the republic, along with snippets from ion, phaedrus, and symposium in the republic, plato makes a systematic case for censoring all arts. Since the guardians should not imitate anything but the superior, socrates continues the political measures of the censorship of poetry. Once you start reading the dialogue you find that it is primarily an inquiry into justice, conceived as. Many of the christian fathers repeated his criticism almost verbatim. Gallons of ink have been spilled on republic exegesis, and at least a few cupfuls went to a good cause. This latter work contains the bestknown work on the subject, by such authors as cynthia hampton, natalie harris bluestone, wendy brown, monique canto, luce irigaray, andrea nye, arlene w.
It seems like it is mainly plato complaining about homer and hesiod, coupled with some very strict views on censorship in the ideal state. It is a complex work, one that rambles due to the nature of it being a dialogue rather than a pure expository piece, but one with some interesting and applicable ideas within it nonetheless. I cant vouch for this edition, compared with other existing publications but am forging ahead nonetheless in the hope that it is a decent version. The philosophers descent into the cave hearkens back the first line of the book, i went down to the piraeus yesterday with glaucon 327a. It is known as a socratic dialogue and is perhaps one of plato s best known works. To have good citizens, children must be well educated. It is known as a socratic dialogue and is perhaps one of platos best known works.
The author contrasts plato s responses to perennial issues with those of key subsequent thinkers and introduces readers to some of the technical terminology in which philosophy. Ramona naddaffs reading of plato s republic explicitly challenges two simple but nevertheless common, and therefore powerful, objections to the treatment of poetry in this dialogue. In his book, the republic, plato identifies a number of changes that should be made. The republic book ii summary and analysis gradesaver. In the course of the 20th century, the republic underwent a spectacular renewal of notoriety, even if it was not always favorable. While censorship is regularly demonized, perhaps it is imposed not only to hinder us, but to cultivate our own individual progression within society, as well as the progression of society as a whole. Mar 04, 2015 while censorship is regularly demonized, perhaps it is imposed not only to hinder us, but to cultivate our own individual progression within society, as well as the progression of society as a whole. We must guarantee that the themes advanced in the fictive arts be morally uplifting. In an article i wrote many years ago aesthetics and childrens picture books, journal of aesthetic education 36. The unjust man enjoys life better than the just book 2, pg. Res publica is a socratic dialogue, authored by plato around 375 bce, concerning justice. Education in platos republic character education santa. It is generally accepted that the republic belongs to the dialogues of platos middle period.