It's a little bit early for a blogpost but I'm reading Book III now and feeling a bit terrified.
I'm not really sure what to do with The Republic, as an artist. Am I supposed to take Plato at his word? Is he going to 'logical' extremes with his construction of his bizarrely hyper-controlled city? Is this purely a metaphor for the rights and wrongs of the soul and the search for the meaning of justice, or is it meant to have some genuine wisdom for city-building and public life?
I don't know, but reading what Socrates has to say about poetry and stories in the hypothetical city makes me hope his words aren't meant to be taken as far as he suggests. Because what he's suggesting - such an intense crackdown on artistic liberties and the intensifying of state-enforced morality - is frankly disturbing on at least a few levels.
Maybe I'm taking this all much too seriously and literally, but the kind of meddling Socrates/Plato wants the government of the republic to engage in reminds me of too many totalitarian states. I assume there's more solid philosophy ahead instead of just ruling-class intervention - or, again, maybe I'm reacting too strongly to something that's not meant to be taken so intensely - but right now the censorship angle just disturbs me.
I agree with you! I feel like Plato is trying to control things too much and it really confuses me. Im not sure what I think about this part of the book yet because its so confusing..
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to see how he tries to control the artist but encourages the musician. I wonder why he doesn't try to incorporate physical art in the same way he incorporates music in the upbringing of the guardians.
ReplyDeleteHe's just so stinking idealistic. Yes it has its place but dude. Is this really going to work in real life?
ReplyDelete