Plato Banning Poetry

Plato Banning Poetry

Plato in The Republic creates a debate by denouncing poetry. Plato has this vision of an ideal city that is genuinely just, Plato banishes poets from the city because they are imitative and under no circumstances do they portray justice. Consequently, poetry was not to be admitted into his ideal city. However if one could argue this debate with superb reasons as to why they should be de-banned from the city, Plato would be willing to allow them back. Plato has three reasons as to why he deems poets as dangerous and unqualified for his city.

The first reason for their refusal is that poets claim to have all this knowledge. This raises the question, do poets really know what they are talking about or are they imitators? He begins to demonstrate this by arguing the example of a bed. There are three beds; one that exists in nature that was created by God, one that the carpenter made, and then lastly the one that was made by the painter. Plato then says that, “God, then, whether he willed it or because he felt some constraint not to make more than one bed, did in fact make only one bed, the real bed.” (Plato 287) He goes onto explain that god should be considered the true and natural creator of the real bed. Furthermore even if he did make more than one bed those would merely be copies. Although the carpenter makes beds in similar quality it is an only an imitation of a particular bed. The painter’s bed is purely an imitation of the carpenter’s product. The painter is then accused to be the imitator of things that others create, because they are one who makes something at third removed from nature. Plato states that although this painting looks different it is not different, and it imitates illusion. Th...

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...n poetry according to Plato will make a person lose sight of ones self, making it hard to for one to avoid expressing emotions, and becoming unjust.

Plato being a philosopher acknowledges that poetry in regards to philosophy is of higher ranking, but one should not take it seriously when dealing with the truth. Also one who listens to it should remain fearful to poetry because of its capability to corrupt their soul, and must remember all of what we have said about poetry. Plato puts an emphasis on people knowing the importance of being just and seeking good and true knowledge when it comes to poetry. He wants us to be aware that even though at times poetry is charming, “we must not be guilty of impiety by betraying what we think is true.” (Plato 298)

Works Cited

Sterling, R. (1985). Plato the republic. (1 ed.). Canada: Penguin Books Canada.