Get a detailed summary and analysis of every chapter in the book from. Sep 10, 2018 platos attack on poetry is most visible in books iii and x of the republic, and is two pronged. It is a fiction book in the format of a discussion between socrates and others. And since it is a given that people are born with various talents, or abilities, it follows that they should be assigned various levels of employment in order to ensure the common good and to perfect the stability of the state. This paper discusses the concept of imitation in plato and aristotle. In the dialogue, socrates talks with various athenians and foreigners about the meaning of justice and whether the just man is happier than the unjust man. It keeps him from having to leave life in the fear of owing debts to men or sacrifices to the gods. This book includes plato s dialogue ion in its entirety 14 pages of greek text and selections from books 2, 3, and 10 of the republic 44 pages of greek text. He has three reasons for regarding the poets as unwholesome and dangerous. Platos republic book 10 poetry as corrupter of the soul. He condemns not all poetry, but only however much of it is imitative hose mimetike 595a. Plato on the ancient quarrel between philosophy and poetry.
Book x of plato s reputblic deals with aesthetic theory, the immortality of the soul, and the destiny of man. The translations from poetry come from jowetts translations of both plato and platos quotations from others. Res publica was written in 380 bc and this version was translated by benjamin jowett in 1871. Today we discuss the final book of plato s republic, book 10. Plato on censoring artists a summary stephen hicks, ph. Plato on the ancient quarrel between philosophy and. Last time we examined questions regarding the benefits of justice and injustice, finally answering some of the questions set in book 12. To therejectionof imitativepoetry,whichcertainlyought not to be received.
The annenberg cpbproject provided support for entering this text. It is generally accepted that the republic belongs to the dialogues of platos middle period. Book x of the republic, however, under the rubric of mimetic poetry, does banish all of epic, tragic and comic poetry. The task of the platonic philosopher is to take up the ancient quarrel between philosophy and poetry 607b and. The ideas and the criticism of poetry in plato s republic, book 10 charles l. Oct 16, 2016 the old quarrel between philosophy and poetry that plato mentions in book x of the republic comes in the form of a fullblown argumentation between philosophy and rhetoric in gorgias, where socratess interlocutor, by the same name of the dialogue, defines the rhetorician as a maker of speeches of blame and praise, and philosophy is. Platos pronouncements on the arts in book x have engaged a spirited.
Poetry should definitely be banished from the city. In a surprising move, he banishes poets from the city. But, since the truth must shine through, socrates agrees to go forward. The numbers in brackets following quotations refer to book numbers. This means that it is poetry that makes us weak and makes our emotional side stronger and thus leads to people becoming less just, and.
It is an example of how the republic s epistemology, metaphysics, and psychology can be used to o. In book 10, plato revisits the question of poetry in more detail, with astonishing results. The final book of the republic begins with socrates return to an earlier theme, that of imitative poetry. But plato never combined his economic ideas into a system, and never seems to have recognized that trade is one of the great motive powers of the state and of the world. With adeimantus and glaucon as auditors, socrates recommences his attack on libelous poetry and fiction as unsuitable for the early education of the guardians of the state. Socrates glaucon of he many excellences which i perceive in the order of our state, there is none which upon reflection pleases me better than the rule about poetry. It is an example of how the republics epistemology. 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. Our story begins as socrates and his friend glaucon head home from a festival. Book x of plato s republic is by far the most direct attack on poetry that we see as well as other forms of artistic representation, a term that we will be returning to in short order. Artists products are only imitations of reality, twice removed from the true characteristic of the world of forms. First, socrates wants to define the concept of imitation again, this time using the example of a couch and a table. Socrates has now completed the main argument of the republic.
Economic issues did not really become apparent until the first wave of globalozation began, so plato should have focused on politics instead. Summary and analysis of book 10 of platos republic. The republic is arguably the most popular and most widely taught of plato s writings. Since so much about plato seems kind of creative, and even literary, readers have puzzled over why plato is so down on poetry. This article defends and develops a dialectical interpretation of the book 10 poetry critique of plato s republic. Platos republic reading group the red pill network. Poetry, as an imitation of a material world that already imitates the really real, is at a. Poetry is a threat to the ideal state he is planning to erect. At the beginning of book 10, socrates returns to his frontal assault on the status and role of poetry in the ideal state. Platos attitude to poetry and the fine arts, and the. What is true of painters is true also of poets and dramatists. The final book of platos republic begins with socrates returning to the question of banishing the poets that was first addressed in book iii. This edition of the republic is important because it includes alan blooms interpretive essay. The republic book x summary and analysis gradesaver.
Start your 48hour free trial to unlock this plato s republic study guide. Benjamin jowett 18171893 was an anglican clergyman and educator. It aims to debate and conclusively determine the meaning of justice. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of the republic and what it means. This week we return to the issue of imitative poetry, going into greater depth as to why something that seems so fundamental to human societies. Also, a discussion of art, poetry, tragedy, and the just life. Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. This student edition, first published in 1957, contains a substantial introduction including sections on historical background, socrates, plato and the republic as a whole. The republic by plato, part of the internet classics archive. Age isnt easy for a good man if hes poor, nor will a bad man ever be cheerful with himself even if hes rich. Jul 10, 2018 this core concept video focuses on plato s republic book 10, specifically on his discussion of. This core concept video focuses on plato s republic book 10, specifically on his discussion of.
In platos state, there is no room for any of these professions as plato makes the case that they will only serve to invite degeneracy into man. He deduces that they are imitators of the world, and therefore far from the truth. The ideas and the criticism of poetry in platos republic, book 10. The ideas and the criticism of poetry in platos republic. It is known as a socratic dialogue and is perhaps one of plato s best known works.
Earlier in the dialogue, socrates suggested that certain kinds of music and poetry should not be permitted in the curriculum of study for the future rulers of the state because some art did not seem to be morally uplifting, hence perhaps bad for children. Plato s basic argument ends in book 4, where he says that justice is nothing but the harmony of the parts of the soul which could arguably be equated with mental health, in naturalistic terms. Plato and aristotle argue that artist demiurge and poet imitate nature, thus, a work of art is a relection of nature. Jun 29, 2019 today we discuss the final book of plato s republic, book 10. The republic book iii summary and analysis gradesaver. About platos republic cliffsnotes study guides book. Why, between ourselvesfor you will not betray me to the tragic poets and all. Like with most movie sequels, this second volume of the republic, comprising books 6 through 10, turned out to be a letdown. We too are inspired by that love of poetry which the education of noble states has implanted in us. Platos discussions of rhetoric and poetry are both extensive and influential.
Summary and analysis of book 10 of plato s republic. Since we know that selected passages from epic and tragedy are used in education, plato s proscription must amount to the elimination of all the great dramatic festivals of ancient athens, around which much of the citys life. Plato s republic, book x despite the love and respect he has for homer, socrates resumes his talk concerning the prohibition of certain types of poetry, for no one is. A metaphysical charge against certain works of poetry that they are forms of imitation, at a third remove from the truth is thus used to justify an ethical charge. 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. The old quarrel between philosophy and poetry that plato mentions in book x of the republic comes in the form of a fullblown argumentation between philosophy and rhetoric in gorgias, where socratess interlocutor, by the same name of the dialogue, defines the rhetorician as a maker of speeches of blame and praise, and philosophy is.
The first stage concentrates on the content of musical poetry, the last on its material and social setting with special reference to the symposium or drinking party. This core concept video focuses on platos republic book 10, specifically on his discussion of. People unite to form a community because of mutual needs. It is an example of how the republics epistemology, metaphysics, and psychology can be used to o.
He begins to prove this by saying that normally, a person would give a unique form to each group of things. Plato on rhetoric and poetry stanford encyclopedia of. Plato has a long and infamous beef with poetry and poets. Plato believes poetic knowledge to be of appearances only because, were it otherwise, the poet would dedicate himself to realities not.
To that end, the republic as a whole is a powerful integration of philosophy, religion, education, and. Readers here should be sure to coordinate platos remarks on poetry with the commentary in book 3. In books iii and x of the republic, plato addresses the problem of poets. Books iiiii of the republic present plato s proposals for reforming the culture in a carefully arranged sequence of stages. The production of censorship in plato s republic, by ramona a. Indeed, much of the final book of the republic is an attack on poetry, and there is no question but that a quarrel between philosophy and poetry is a continuing theme throughout plato s corpus. To the rejection of imitative poetry, which certainly ought not to be received. Jan 21, 2012 in the republic, plato makes a systematic case for censoring all arts. Plato takes an absolute massive dump over poetry, art, and comedy, which were the primary forms of entertainment and expression in ancient greece correct me if im wrong here. As in most other platonic dialogues the main character is socrates. The number of spheres corresponds, first, to the heavenly bodies visible to the greeks and, second, to the notes of a scale. First, there is the liberal objection virtually every teacher of the republic encounters from one or more. Purchase a copy of this text not necessarily the same edition from. He examines several poetic descriptions of courage the overcoming of fear of death and of.
As in so many other cases, he sets the agenda for the subsequent tradition. He turns back to the postponed question concerning poetry about human beings. The internet classics archive the republic by plato. Although it contains its dramatic moments and it employs certain literary devices, it is not a play, a novel, a story. Oct 21, 2015 summary and analysis of book 10 of plato s republic. 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. At first, socrates is hesitant to say more about poetry because he loved the poetry of homer since he was little kid. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in the republic, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. That being said, plato s republic stands as the most important book of political theory ever written. The last subject, and also the origin of retail trade, is treated with admirable lucidity in the second book of the republic. And yet understanding his remarks about each of these topicsrhetoric and poetrypresents us with significant philosophical and interpretive challenges. For example, he says, beds, because they all look similar, are all known as beds.
Worse, the images the poets portray do not imitate the good part of the soul. Plato s attack on poetry is most visible in books iii and x of the republic, and is two pronged. Plato is concerned with poetry because of the effect he fears it will have on the population of his ideal society. He reiterates that while he is still content with having banished poetry from their state, he wishes to explain his reasons more thoroughly. Plato s statement that poets deserve to be banished is one of the most famous views of great thinkers in relation to poetry. In book two, socrates, thrasymachus and adeimantus decide to focus on a. Griswold journal of the history of philosophy, volume 19, number 2, april 1981, pp. The task of the platonic philosopher is to take up the ancient quarrel between philosophy and poetry 607b and to assert the stateenforced dominance of philosophy. The dialogue on theological principles picks up where it left off in the previous book.
In the tenth book of the republic he says that, whereas the artificer in making any material object imitates the eternal idea, an artist only imitates the imitation 595 a598 d. They consider the natures of existing regimes and then propose a series of different, hypothetical cities in comparison, culminating in kallipolis. Artists specifically poets claims to have broad knowledge about mankind are false. Dec 01, 1988 book x of plato s reputblic deals with aesthetic theory, the immortality of the soul, and the destiny of man. Readers here should be sure to coordinate plato s remarks on poetry with the commentary in book 3, which constitutes the first phase of the discussion. Having sorted out the classes in the soul, socrates now states that imitation must not be allowed in the city. Since the midnineteenth century, the republic has been platos most famous and widely read dialogue. Socrates reemphasizes the importance of the limits placed on poetry in the city in speech. Some should be farmers, some carpenters, tailors, shoemakers. Nettleship, in lectures on the republic of plato, ed.
This article defends and develops a dialectical interpretation of the book 10 poetry critique of platos republic. But what we can explain are the two reasons plato gives in the republic for censoring and banning the poets. His translations of platos dialogues appeared in 1871. Glaucon asks socrates whether justice belongs 1 in the class of good things we choose to have for themselves, like joy, or 2 those we value for their consequences though they themselves are hard, like physical training. Socrates attack on homer is argued to be ironic and designed to test glaucon in various ways, and generate interest in the concept of. Culture, art and poetry in the republic the core curriculum. Plato s argument against poetry in republic 10 is perplexing. Platos republic book 10 poetry as corrupter of the soul youtube. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. A just man might suffer for the sins of his past life.
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