Although socrates thinks that the discussion is over, glaucon continues it, asking socrates in which class of things he would place justice. In book two, socrates, thrasymachus and adeimantus decide to focus on a. I recommend to anyone who has little experience of philosophy or platos writing not to skip this section. The second is that justice is helping ones friends and harming ones enemies. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Plato wants children well educated so when theyre older, society stays the same and everyone will be smart. 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. Gerasimos santas, understanding plato s republic, wileyblackwell, 2010, 238pp.
What is the result of book 1, and plato s point in writing it. Gallons of ink have been spilled on republic exegesis, and at least a few cupfuls went to a good cause. In the republic, plato says a great deal of his beliefs and the reasons behind them. 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. 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. The book is the record of a dialogue between socrates and several other athenians about the. Value of truth censorship and noble falsehood in platos republic. The republics overall argument for censorship thus combines a particular conception of morality with religion and authoritarian politics. His stance is perhaps summarized in book ii of the republic by the phrase that literature may be either true or false, i. In the republic, plato plays around with the argument that it is better to be just than unjust. To have good citizens, children must be well educated. We must begin, then, it seems, by a censorship 377c over our storymakers, and what. It seems like it is mainly plato complaining about homer and hesiod, coupled with some very strict views on censorship in the ideal state. Books ii and iii of the republic are notoriously difficult to teach.
These illuminate the reader as to what to expect and give great insight into the concepts of the republic as a whole. The republic, book i plato note that i have added name indicators to identify whose words are being communicated throughout the dialogue. Toward the end of book 5, in the discussion of knowledge and opinion, plato hints at another crucial idea in the dialogue as a whole. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in the republic, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Indeed, the history of readings of the book is itself an academic discipline, with specialist chapters on almost every episode in the story. Plato book ii of the republic on censorship aesthetics today. The title of platos work the republic is a literal translation of the greek title politeia, which simply referred to the affairs of the city state, and not to a republic in any modern sense. The main theme is justice, both the just state and the just human being. Oct 27, 2012 here, we go through a brief summary, and my argument on plato s the republic, book i. The republic by plato meet your next favorite book. Instead, the whole text is presented as told by socrates as he recalls the event. In book one, the republics question first emerges in the figure of cephalus. 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.
In the republic, plato makes a systematic case for censoring all arts. Influence of platos censorship of music 885 words bartleby. 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. 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. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of the republic and what it means. Platos republic describes an ideal city, one that fosters justice for its residents. In book iii of the republic, plato continues his discourse on guardians 373d374e as well as other roles that make up a society. I think that plato believed history had little significance.
The internet classics archive the republic by plato. Then the first thing will be to establish a censorship of the writers of fiction. The republic quotes from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. 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. Jo walton used the description of the city when writing her book the just city. I recommend to anyone who has little experience of philosophy or plato s writing not to skip this section. 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. Censorship is the subject of several dialogues in the republic, the major work of greek philosopher plato. It is known as a socratic dialogue and is perhaps one of platos best known works. Education in platos republic character education santa. In this hypothetical city he creates a censored educational system and abolishes the typical family structure in hopes that the society would be just. The philosophers descent into the cave hearkens back the first line of the book, i went down to the piraeus yesterday with glaucon 327a. The third view of justice is that it is to the advantage of the stronger.
It is known as a socratic dialogue and is perhaps one of plato s best known works. Milton is responding not only to the call to license books, but to plato. This edition has a really helpful introduction section which goes through each of the books that make up plato s republic. Course hero literature instructor russell jaffe provides an indepth summary and analysis of book 2 of platos philosophical text the republic. It is generally accepted that the republic belongs to the dialogues of platos middle period. It is generally accepted that the republic belongs to the dialogues of platos middle. This edition has a really helpful introduction section which goes through each of the books that make up platos republic. The theory is involved in the analogies of the divided line and the cave from books 6 and 7. In the third book of the republic a nearer approach is made to a theory of art than anywhere else in plato. Socrates, do you wish really to persuade us, or only to seem to have persuaded us, that to be just is. The main theme is justice, both the just state and the just human being, and what an ideal state would be like, one ruled by not. This explains platos references to the ideas of the god head as the gods or. True art is not fanciful and imitative, but simple and ideal,the expression of the highest moral energy, whether in action or repose.
Censorship in platos republic in the republic, plato plays around with the argument that it is better to be just than unjust. It is platos bestknown work, and has proven to be one. Although he was one of the greeks greatest political figures, i do not agree with his point of view. To have a good society, we must have good citizens. The republic book ii great books of the western world. 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. Here, we go through a brief summary, and my argument on platos the republic, book i. Sep 29, 2016 platos republic describes an ideal city, one that fosters justice for its residents. His vessel for showing this is through the forming of an ideal city. The republic book ii summary and analysis gradesaver. Simon blackburn on platos republic books the guardian. Reviewed by michelle jenkins, whitman college the republic is undoubtedly one of platos masterworks and one of the most influential and widely read books in the history of philosophy. 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. What is the result of book 1, and platos point in writing it.
The republic book 1 book 1 of plato s republic raises the question what is justice. Good people and gods do not deceive but painters constantly deceive us by trying to make. Since the midnineteenth century, the republic has been platos most famous and widely read dialogue. In my philosophy of art course, we are discussing plato s 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. Though one of the earliest recorded attempts to discover justice in the physical world, platos dialogue the republic has endured as one of the most influential and penetrating discussions of the subject. Plato s the republic is one of the more widely read works of philosophy of all time. She begins with two modern examples that illustrate platos view on state censorship. Professor gendler explores some aspects of the question of what sorts of nonrational persuasion are legitimate for a government to engage in. A very thoughtprovoking work about the meaning of justice. The stoics apply the classification to preferables diogenes laertius vii. 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. Justice, they tell us, being midway between the two, is accepted and. In a famous and important passage, glaucon describes the myth of gyges, 359d ff socrates, in response, argues that it is better to be just and appear unjust then to be unjust and appear just.
As in most other platonic dialogues the main character is socrates. The dialogue on theological principles picks up where it left off in the previous book. Plato book ii of the republic on censorship books ii and iii of the republic are notoriously difficult to teach. So in many places socrates refers to what others are saying. Plato on censoring artists a summary stephen hicks, ph. Simon blackburn on platos republic simon blackburn. The republic book iii summary and analysis gradesaver. 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.
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. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. The republic book 1 book 1 of platos republic raises the question what is justice. Aug 05, 2006 simon blackburn on plato s republic simon blackburn. Platos ethics and politics in the republic stanford. Gerasimos santas, understanding platos republic, wileyblackwell, 2010, 238pp. Platos the republic is one of the more widely read works of philosophy of all time. The first is that justice is speaking the truth and paying ones debt. 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. Platos lie in the soul ancient history encyclopedia. The republic is an exceedingly difficult text to write about.
For example, in the republic book 2, lines 377a378d talks about how children must learn about music first. Our story begins as socrates and his friend glaucon head home from a festival. In plato s republic, plato talked about censorship. It is platos bestknown work, and has proven to be one of the worlds most influential works of philosophy. Plato on censorship the art and popular culture encyclopedia. Socrates continues the political measures of the censorship of poetry. The republic of plato seems in many respects divergent from the reality. The republic by plato, part of the internet classics archive. 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. His form of censorship leads to the falsification of history. The task of the platonic philosopher is to take up the ancient quarrel between philosophy and poetry 607b and. This idea of the censorship of the arts is continued in book iii. The republic classics of moral and political theory. To therejectionof imitativepoetry,whichcertainlyought not to be received.
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. As an american and a political liberal i am not keen on censorship and i am. You can buy the book from amazon, both physically and for your kindle. 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. Basing his artful dialogue on the ideas of his teacher socrates, plato avoids much direct discussion.
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