Plato on censorship the art and popular culture encyclopedia. Socrates does not seem very attractive in these sections. We must guarantee that the themes advanced in the fictive arts be morally uplifting. In order to have all those things, they decide they will need a minimum of four to five people to be a farmer, builder. Course hero literature instructor russell jaffe provides an indepth summary and analysis of book 2 of plato s philosophical text the republic. Platos ethics and politics in the republic stanford. Outline of plato s republic from the republic of plato, edited by francis cornford oxford 1945. The dialogue of the second book is more an intellectual exercise than the previous book, since glaucon takes a position contrary to his own in fact, it is thrasymachus for the sake of argument, and so that they might arrive at a more satisfying conclusion. Then now, my friend, i said, that part of music or literary education which relates to the story or myth may be considered to be finished. This idea of the censorship of the arts is continued in book iii. We have agreed, says socrates, that the guardians must be warlike and fierce in their defense against the enemies of the state. Socrates believes that a city comes about because people cant survive on their own and need to form communities. What is the main basis of plato s hostility to poetry. Thrasymachus, polymarchus, and the others having gone on to enjoy the festival, socrates, glaucon, and adeimantus are left alone to continue the debate on justice.
The republic is arguably the most popular and most widely taught of plato s writings. The ideal city of the laws, which plato probably wrote shortly after the statesman, accords a greater political role for unwise citizens than the republic does see plato. Plato s republic book 2 city and soul analogy by the end of book 1 of republic, socrates has disposed of the challenges from polemarchus and thrasymachus. Plato advocated censorship of the arts, a totalitarian betrayal of human liberty. Value of truth censorship and noble falsehood in platos republic. Plato wrote the remainder of the republic in an attempt to provide an adequate, satisfying answer to this question. Quite a few comments have been posted about the republic. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. It seems like it is mainly plato complaining about homer and hesiod, coupled.
The republic book iii summary and analysis gradesaver. In the republic books iii and x, he is even keen to ban certain kinds of writing, music, and poetry, because they have the potential to corrupt. In book one, he argued that justice, as a virtue, makes the soul perform. We have agreed, then, that the tales we teach the young will teach them to honor the gods. About platos republic cliffsnotes study guides book. What is the definition of justice proposed by cephalus. Then the first thing will be to establish a censorship of the writers of fiction. Find a summary of this and each chapter of the republic. The republic is a sprawling work with dazzling details and an enormously wideranging. Aug 27, 2014 plato book ii of the republic on censorship books ii and iii of the republic are notoriously difficult to teach. 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.
Plato s the republic is a series of books that discusses the republic that plato is trying to create. Plato, republic, book 2, page 377 tufts university. Plato s book, the republic, expresses an argument or debate between aristotles son, glaucon, and philosopher socrates. The production of censorship in plato s republic, by ramona a. Chapter summary for plato s the republic, book 2 summary. In book 1 of plato s the republic, plato explains that justice is a balance between reason, courage and mans needs or in other words, the head, the heart and the stomach. Plato on rhetoric and poetry stanford encyclopedia of. The argument defines the advantages and disadvantages of justice and injustice. Outline of platos republic from the republic of plato, edited by francis cornford oxford 1945. In book two, socrates, thrasymachus and adeimantus decide to focus on a. 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. Chapter summary for plato s the republic, book 3 summary. Glaucon, eager to hear socrates demonstrate that justice is worthy of pursuit as both an end and as a means to an end, offers to play devils advocate and oppose his. Describe the education of the guardians as it is presented in books 2 and 3 of plato s republic.
In books 2 and 3, the first censorship of poetry, she finds that plato constitutes the poet as a rival with whom the philosopher must vie agonistically. Jo walton used the description of the city when writing her book the just city. Chapter summary for platos the republic, book 3 summary. So, to sum up, a good many people have read the republic and there is likely nothing new or interesting that might be written on the text at this point. Book i 99k book ii 92k book iii 109k book iv 93k book v 112k. First, there is the liberal objection virtually every teacher of the republic encounters from one or more. Both premises are correct, but the conclusion does not follow. 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. While censorship in all its many forms is often considered unjustifiable and is regularly used to stop truths or ideas from emerging, i feel that my ideal republic would. Zeno of citium, the founder of stoicism, wrote his version of an ideal society, zenos republic, in opposition to platos republic. Justice as helping friends and harming enemies 331e336a 3. In the republic, plato makes a systematic case for censoring all arts. Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis.
Jan 31, 2017 the ideal city republic book 2 summary 2 of 2. 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. Although it contains its dramatic moments and it employs certain literary devices, it is not a play, a novel, a story. After book i, the entire dialogue is pervaded by an extended analogy between the justice of individual human beings and the that of an entire society or citystate. His stance is perhaps summarized in book ii of the republic by the phrase that literature may be either true or false, i. Start studying philosophy plato s the republic books 14 flashcards. Decharme, euripides and the spirit of his dramas, translated by james loeb, chap. Plato s criticism of the mythology is anticipated in part by euripides, xenophanes, heracleitus, and pythagoras. This extract is from the republic by plato, book iii 398403. So now the republic will turn in a new direction, focusing on such issues as education, censorship.
The republic quotes from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Platos lie in the soul ancient history encyclopedia. Plato would have approved of this sort of censorship activity. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of the republic and what it means. Since the midnineteenth century, the republic has been platos most famous and widely read dialogue. The state should prohibit the publication of any poetry that grossly violates the truth of divinity or tends to weaken human character. Apr 16, 2010 meanwhile, undergraduate professors seem to agree that, if their students only read one work by plato and even that might be wishful thinking it should be this one. Socrates, and hence socrates puppetmaster plato, have very specific ideas about the function of literature, to teach and the importance of censorship. Click anywhere in the line to jump to another position. The republic book ii summary and analysis gradesaver. Plato the republic role of censorship in plato s kallipolis. He wants a definition of the good that shows why its appealing, not just why its right.
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. For one thing dramatic art stirs up peoples emotions, leading to irrationality, which in turn encourages immorality. Also, during this discussion the philosophers unlock the. Plato on censoring artists a summary january 21, 2012. Zenos republic was controversial and was viewed with some embarrassment by some of the later stoics due to its defenses of free love, incest, and cannibalism and due to its opposition to ordinary education and the building of temples, lawcourts, and gymnasia. The ideal city republic book 2 summary 2 of 2 youtube. Censorship in platos republic in the republic, plato plays around with the argument that it is better to be just than unjust. Plato s republic describes an ideal city, one that fosters justice for its residents. 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. Res publica is a socratic dialogue, authored by plato around 375 bc, concerning justice. But we do not want them to turn against their fellow citizens. 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. Platos ethics and politics in the republic stanford encyclopedia of. The task of the platonic philosopher is to take up the ancient quarrel between.
What does socrates say about censorship in platos republic. His vessel for showing this is through the forming of an ideal city. Platos study guide california state university stanislaus. To have a good society, we must have good citizens.
How does the conversation between cephalus and socrates evolve into a dialogue about the nature and definition of justice. Our story begins as socrates and his friend glaucon head home from a festival. Jun, 2017 the republic is a socratic dialogue, written by plato around 380 bc, concerning justice. Therefore we must winnow the myths, editing them, and, in some cases, censoring aspects of them. Despite the inconclusive end of the previous book, glaucon and adeimantus, plato s brothers, are eager to pursue the quest for the true nature of justice. Naddaff develops this stunning argument through an extraordinary reading of plato s work. Plato s the republic is one of the more widely read works of philosophy of all time. Glaucon is not persuaded by the arguments in the previous discussion 357a. The dialogue on theological principles picks up where it left off in the previous book. The republic quotes from litcharts the creators of. What does socrates say about censorship in plato s republic book three. The republic is a socratic dialogue, written by plato around 380 bc, concerning justice. Philosophy platos the republic books 14 flashcards quizlet. This education is most often noted for its carefully censored reading list.
Censorship is a contentious topic in modern society, and with the recent technological advancements in telecommunications, censoring material from the publics eye can sometimes prove impossible. In book book ii of the republic plato expresses his concern on the. Plato book ii of the republic on censorship aesthetics today. Censorship is the subject of several dialogues in the republic, the major. Books ii and iii of the republic are notoriously difficult to teach. He examines several poetic descriptions of courage the overcoming of fear of death and of. The internet classics archive the republic by plato. In each book plato touches on different topics dealing with the art, that he feels effect society. It is known as a socratic dialogue and is perhaps one of. Jan 27, 2020 plato the republic role of censorship in plato s kallipolis published by jaymo on january 27, 2020 here are 2 essays. The republic of plato learn with flashcards, games, and more for free. Censorship in platos republic essay example for free newyorkessays database with more than 65000 college essays for studying. Justice as helping friends and harming enemies 331e336a.
The republic by plato, part of the internet classics archive. In book iii socrates expands the argument considerably. As widely known books ii, iii and x in the republic contain various examples of what. As in most other platonic dialogues the main character is socrates. The concern now is squarely with poetry that encourages virtue in the souls of the young. And they produce a host of books written by musaeus and orpheus. Glaucon, one of socratess young companions, explains what they would like him to do. Essay about platos republic book 2 notes 500 words. Glaucon takes the lead, first discoursing on justice as a mean or compromise, whereby men agree laws must intervene in order to prevent the excessive doing or suffering of evil. Justice as the advantage of the stronger 336b347e 4. Therefore, claims to eternal standards of excellence are to be suspected of being totalitarian. In republic, plato strongly argues for imposing censorship on poetry. The republic by plato, part of the internet classics archive home.
Censorship is the subject of several dialogues in the republic, the major work of greek philosopher plato. It is clear from the context that he is thinking of the performance of an actor, rhapsode or other performer one can talk of mimesis. Gallons of ink have been spilled on republic exegesis, and at least a few cupfuls went to a good cause. 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. The republics overall argument for censorship thus combines a particular conception of morality with religion and authoritarian politics. The censorship of writers can be useful, because it might keep certain arts out of the childs hand. 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. Platos attitude to poetry and the fine arts, and the. The republic is an exceedingly difficult text to write about. It seems like it is mainly plato complaining about homer and hesiod, coupled with some very strict views on censorship in the ideal state. This is a general theme in the republic, in which characters often ask for things to be defended on the basis of their ability to bring about happiness, not just on the basis of morality. The republic by plato book on censorship bsn, msn, dnp.
Conclusions about the ethics and politics of platos republic. It is generally accepted that the republic belongs to the dialogues of platos middle period. However, the two brothers glaucon and adeimantus are far from satisfied. To have good citizens, children must be well educated. This work, indirectly, caused me to restart and hopefully complete my reading of the great books of the western world. Active themes related quotes with explanations cite this page.