PLATO PLATO BIOGRAPHY An ancient Greek philosopher Was

PLATO

PLATO: BIOGRAPHY • • • An ancient Greek philosopher, Was a student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle. Wrote during the mid-4 th century BC Founded an academy in Athens, Greece. His famous works: Ion Lysis Gorgias Symposium Phaedrus Republic Laws 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

SOCRATIC DIALOGUE • His philosophical writings are primarily in the form of dialogues • The form became known as the “Socratic dialogue” • Where truths are revealed by a series of questions and inferences based on the questions and their responses.

WHY SHOULD WE START WITH PLATO? • The first real literary critic and theoretician • Even Aristophanes’ evaluations and comments in his comedies are practical rather than theoretical. • The Most poetic of philosophers • But an enemy of poetry

DISILLUSIONMENT OF THE TIME • Plato’s time: • Civil war • Time of political decline and disillusionment • Time of constant debate between poets and philosophers • Greeks needed order and reason (not emotion). • Plato was on behalf of philosophers. • So, philosophers won the debate.

BORROWERS OF HIS APPROACH TO POETRY 1. 2. 3. St. Augustine (to support the antagonism of church against literature) Political totalitarians of 20 th century: a. b. Communists Fascists Anyone whose concern is building a Platonic Republic, the Soviet State, or the City of God (i. e. an ideal society)

S T E O P E H T F O M E L B THE PRO ADDRESSED BY PLATO

THE PROBLEM OF THE POETS • Plato addresses the problem of the poets in: 1. 2. 3. Ion The Republic Laws

ION PEDAGOGICAL POINT OF VIEW ON THE PROBLEM OF THE POETS • • • Poets are teachers. Poets use inspiration to write. But truth is arrived at by reason. So they cannot arrive at truth because they do not use their reason. So poets are not good teachers. “There is no invention in him [i. e. poets] until he has been inspired and is out of his senses and then the mind is no longer in him […] muses impel them. ” • • They speak by divine power. So they speak not from knowledge but from inspiration. Inspiration=madness Thus, poets cannot be trusted as teachers.

PLATONIC VIEW OF THE TRUTH : A METAPHYSICAL POINT OF VIEW • He believed that abstract ideas and truths exist in a place • beyond the material objects of the world. • Reality exists in the world of ideas not in the material world. • The term “platonic” has come to mean pure or lofty.

THE REPUBLIC METAPHYSICAL POINT OF VIEW ON THE PROBLEM OF THE POETS • In books III and X of The Republic, Plato addresses the problem of poets. • The Republic is written in the form of dialogues between different characters • (some of whom are merely auditors) • The main discussion is carried on by Socrates, Glaucon, and Adeimantus.

THE REPUBLIC METAPHYSICAL POINT OF VIEW ON THE PROBLEM OF THE POETS • Poets are imitators of the material world (not the world of ideas) • Therefore, far from the truth: • When the carpenter “makes” a bed, he is making an imperfect imitation of the ideal bed (“created” by God) • When the poet or painter portray a bed, theirs is an imitation of the imperfect bed made by the carpenter. • So the poets’ imitation is thrice removed from the ideal. “The tragic poet is an imitator, and therefore, like all other imitators, • he is thrice removed from the king and from the truth. ” The poet’s art is “an inferior who marries an inferior and has inferior off-spring. ”

THE REPUBLIC ETHICAL POINT OF VIEW ON THE PROBLEM OF THE POETS • In poets’ works like homer’s works, God is doing things which are morally wrong. • Their poetry can lead citizens to wrong paths. • “That those who are punished are miserable, and that the author of their misery is God- the poet is not permitted to say. […] that God being good is the author of evil to any one is to be strenuously denied and not to be said or sung or heard in verse or prose by anyone. ”

LAWS POLITICAL POINT OF VIEW ON THE PROBLEM OF THE POETS • Poets also show 1. heroes doing unworthy things: a. b. Sulking in tents at the time of war Taking bribes etc. 2. Fearful pictures of Hades and after-life • This is dangerous for young men who should be Øtaught to die bravely for their country Øwith the promise of a reward in the after-life

POLITICAL POINT OF VIEW • The other (political) danger of poets in The Republic: • Poets corrupt youth and incite the passions instead of the faculties of reason. • The poet, “with his words and phrases, ” is able to convince listeners that he knows what he speaks of: “such is the sweet influence which melody and rhythm by nature have. ” • Poetry appeals to the emotions; “Poetry feeds and waters the passions instead of drying them up; she lets them rule, although they ought to be controlled, if mankind are ever to increase in happiness and virtue. ”

BANISHMENT OF POETRY FROM PLATO’S REPUBLIC • In book X of The Republic (a dialogue between Socrates and Glaucon) • Plato concludes that poetry must be banished from the hypothetical, ideal society; • However, if poetry makes “a defense for herself in lyrical or some other meter, ” she may be allowed to return from exile. • Qualities of usefulness (didacticism) and a “well-ordered state” are emphasized; • He adds: “we may further grant to those of her defenders who are lovers of poetry. . . the permission to speak in prose on her behalf: let them show not only that she is pleasant but also useful to states and to human life, and we will listen in kindly spirit; for if this can be proved we shall surely be the gainers —I mean, if there is a use in poetry as well as a delight? ”

• From any point of view: I. Pedagogical II. Metaphysical III. Ethical IV. Political • Plato arrived at the conclusion that ØPOETRY IS DANGEROUS.

POEMS ALLOWED IN PLATO’S REPUBLIC • Some poems are allowed, under the control of the ruler: • Official poetry 1. Hymns to the gods 2. Praises for good men • Written by politically reliable poets.

KEY PLATONIC TERMS • • • Digesis (speech of the character narrated by the poet) Mimesis (speech of the character directly reproduced) Imitation Impersonation Inspiration Moment of frenzy The world of idea The world of phenomenon (perceptual appearance) Utilitarianism

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