What is Poetry according to Plato?

For Plato, poetry is detrimental to the individual, therefore necessitating its ban from the ideal city. This is because the poet is ultimately not concerned with truth, instead with producing images. Accordingly, the poet produces a false account of reality that seduces the listener.

What is Reality?

Reality for Plato is the ideas that exist above the realm of the physical world. Physical things are essentially reflections of the greater reality that is their idea.

How does Plato talk about the painter? The manufacturer?

The painter is one who creates images of things, as opposed to reaching reality itself, which is the idea. The painter is one who impersonates reality. The manufacturer also signifies this inferior notion of reality, since, as Plato argues, he only makes a “particular bed”, as opposed to a general concept of bed.

What is the most important thing in society according to Plato?

For Plato, a just society is the most important thing, in so far as justice is truth. A society should live according to truth and not according to appearances. Uncovering this truth is the task of the philosopher.

What is the greatest danger to society?

The greatest danger to society accordingly is to mistake appearance and false reality for the truth. This is why artists such as poets are dangerous, because they intoxicate the members of society with their imagery. They are not actively seeking the truth, as philosophers do.

How does Plato define truth? Justice?

Arguably, Plato in this Book does not give an explicit definition of truth, but rather refers to it as the ultimate reality of things that must be sought after. In this sense, Plato describes truth negatively, as what it is not, such as the images of the artist. In the same manner, the Book aims to interrogate what is justice. Justice also cannot be an appearance, but some type of ideal that must be attained. This is why it is connected to truth: it is above the realm of appearances.

According to Plato, do writers represent things as they really are? Or as they appear to be?

For Plato, writers do not represent things as they really are, but only according to appearances. This is because the writer is an artist, who is more concerned with generating beautiful images, than seeking out the truth.

What is the problem with poetry?

Poetry is problematic because it is once again only concerned with images. It is seductive, seeking beautiful words which will please the listener. It does not seek out the absolute truth of reality, regardless of what the listener or reader of poetry hears.

What influence does the poet have on society?

In this regard, the influence of the poet is negative, in so far as he or she distracts society from seeking out the truth, instead engaging them with his images. A good analogy to understand Plato’s negative definition of the poet is therefore media such as television, which only presents an image or interpretation of the truth.

What is the problem with representation?

Representation essentially seeks to make a copy of the truth. It does not seek out the truth itself. In this sense, while representation does near the truth, it is not an absolute sense of truth.

What would Plato’s ideal community look like?

Plato’s ideal community would be one where there are strict caste divisions. The ruling class is that of the philosophers, who, because of their commitment to truth and absolute reality, will be able to steer the community in the proper direction.

How do we discover goodness and truth, according to Plato?

For Plato, goodness and truth are discovered by the use of thought and the engagement with ideas. We should not accept what is given to us as true, but should instead challenge our presuppositions. This is the methodology of Socrates, who constantly challenges the presuppositions of his interlocutors.

What is the problem with appearance and representation?

Appearance and representation fail to see the underlying truth, instead content with a copy. Accordingly, appearance and representation are not philosophical, because they do not see out the ultimate foundation of all things, i.e., truth and goodness.

How does Plato define Emotion?

Emotion, for Plato, is essentially something that distracts us from using our faculty of reason. We become invested in certain positions because of our emotions. This creates a situation where our personal viewpoint dominates, which does not coincide with absolute, objective reality and truth.

How does Plato define reason?

For Plato, reason is a type of task which, using logical propositions, debunks mythology and seeks out the truth. Reason is at the same time a method, a tool, which the philosopher uses to unmask the falsity of appearances.

What does Plato think about sight? About seeing?

For Plato, our senses can often be deceiving. Accordingly, they occupy a less important position for the philosopher, since they tend to emphasize appearances and representations.

How do poets confuse society?

Poets confuse society by creating imagery that emphasizes appearance over reality. Accordingly, they derail society from seeking to discover the truth, content instead in the world of appearances.

How would poetry be able to fit into Plato’s community?

Poetry would fit in Plato’s community to the extent that it would reject its commitments to appearances, and instead seek out ultimate truth. Accordingly, an acceptable poet would be one who uses poetic language not to create images, but rather as a stylistic device which emphasizes absolute reality.