Censorship is the subject of several dialogues in the republic, the major work of greek philosopher plato. The ideal city republic book 2 summary 2 of 2 christopher anadale. In books ii and iii of the republic1, socrates argues for the general. Book ii, 357a368c coming on the heels of thrasymachus attack on justice in book i, the points that glaucon and adeimantus raisethe social contract theory of justice and the idea of justice as a currency that buys rewards in the afterlifebolster the challenge faced by socrates to prove justices worth.
Unlike most of platos dialogues, socrates does not appear in the laws. Philosophy platos the republic books 14 flashcards. This explains platos references to the ideas of the godhead as the gods. The republic has been divided into the following sections. We may judge from the noble commencement of the timaeus, from the fragment of the critias itself, and from the third book of the laws, in what manner plato would have treated this high argument. Jan 21, 2012 the republics overall argument for censorship thus combines a particular conception of morality with religion and authoritarian politics. 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 glaucon i went down yesterday to the piraeus with glaucon the son of ariston, that i might offer up my prayers to the. As i went on reading the republic, i saw many similar things that still existed in our society. I will explain socrates definition of justice in the individual, and then show that socrates cannot certify that his definition of justice is correct, without asking further questions about justice. Glaucons first assertion, according to the popular definition, is that justice is a legally enforced compromise between doing injustice to others and having injustice done unto oneself. Although socrates thinks that the discussion is over, glaucon continues it, asking socrates in which class of things he would place justice. As in most other platonic dialogues the main character is socrates. His laws not only govern crime and punishment, but also form a code of conduct for all aspects of life in his ideal statefrom education, sport and religion to sexual behaviour, marriage and drinking parties. Quite a few comments have been posted about the republic. In the republic, plato makes a systematic case for censoring all arts. It is known as a socratic dialogue and is perhaps one of plato s best known works. Education in platos republic character education santa. 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 introduction 54k book i 99k book ii 92k book iii 109k book iv 93k book v 112k book vi 95k book vii 92k book viii 92k book ix 76k.
May 21, 2015 a core talk dealing with the topic of plato and censorship. The republic of plato is the longest of his works with the exception of the laws, and is certainly the greatest of them. The republic since the midnineteenth century, the republic has been plato s most famous and widely read dialogue. We have agreed, says socrates, that the guardians must be warlike and fierce in their defense against the enemies of the state. Platos ethics and politics in the republic stanford. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The republic is a socratic dialogue, authored by plato around 375 bc, concerning justice. To have good citizens, children must be well educated. And the stories on the accepted list we will induce nurses and mothers to tell to the children and so shape their souls by these stories far rather than their. The task of the platonic philosopher is to take up the ancient quarrel between philosophy and poetry 607b and.
One of his many famous writings would be included in his collected dialogues. The republic is the best state, the laws is the best possible under the existing conditions of the greek world. 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. We must guarantee that the themes advanced in the fictive arts be morally uplifting. He also accepts platos illiberal measures such as the censorship of literature. This idea of the censorship of the arts is continued in book iii. 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. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of the republic and what it means. The republic classics of moral and political theory. 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. Plato s beliefs on education, however, are difficult to discern because of the intricacies of the dialogue. The republic quotes from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. This extract is from the republic by plato, book iii 398403. 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 quotes from litcharts the creators of. A core talk dealing with the topic of plato and censorship. When one thinks of plato and his ideas of politics, one naturally gravitates toward his bestknown work, the republic. But book one rules this strategy out by casting doubt on widely accepted. 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. The relation of the republic to the laws is clearly set forth by plato in the laws. 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.
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. Start studying philosophy platos the republic books 14 flashcards. Chapter summary for platos the republic, book 2 summary. In book four of platos the republic socrates defines justice in the individual as analogous to justice in the state. The state should prohibit the publication of any poetry that grossly violates the truth of divinity or tends to weaken human character. And the laws which they make must be obeyed by their subjects, and that is what you. Rather he feels plato would have known that the republic could never beome a reality. At the beginning of book ii, platos two brothers challenge socrates to define. 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. He relates an allegory of a shepherd who discovers a magic ring. Although plato s republic is best known for its definitive defense of justice, it also includes an equally powerful defense of philosophical education. In the laws, plato describes in fascinating detail a comprehensive system of legislation in a small agricultural utopia he named magnesia. It is generally accepted that the republic belongs to the dialogues of plato s middle period. It seems like it is mainly plato complaining about homer and hesiod, coupled.
Plato on censoring artists a summary stephen hicks, ph. The republic book iii summary and analysis gradesaver. 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. Mar 04, 2015 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 that book, plato set up the ideal citystate, with classes born and bred to specific functions and roles in society, and a sense of philosophical outlook consistent across the board. Jun 10, 2016 the laws by plato are the final and lengthiest dialogue written by the renowned ancient greek philosopher. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Conclusions about the ethics and politics of platos republic.
Since the midnineteenth century, the republic has been platos most famous and widely read dialogue. Aug 04, 2008 this extract is from the republic by plato, book iii 398403 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. Then the first thing will be to establish a censorship of the writers of fiction, and let the censors receive any. Plato on censorship the art and popular culture encyclopedia. Start studying philosophy plato s the republic books 14 flashcards. 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. The internet classics archive the republic by plato.
Plato s republic was one of the best books ive ever read. The republic of plato learn with flashcards, games, and more for free. In my philosophy of art course, we are discussing platos 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. The republic, book 1, is a socratic dialogue written by plato around his midlife. In the first part of the sixth book, plato completes his sketch of the constitution by the appointment of officers. Platos ethics and politics in the republic stanford encyclopedia of. The laws, platos longest dialogue, has for centuries been recognized as the most comprehensive exposition of the practical consequences of his philosophy, a necessary corrective to the more visionary and utopian republic. The republic book 1 focuses on the definition of justice and the order and character of the just citystate and the just man. Plato the republic role of censorship in plato s kallipolis published by jaymo on january 27, 2020 here are 2 essays. It is platos bestknown work, and has proven to be one of the worlds most influential works of philosophy and political theory, both intellectually and. What does socrates say about censorship in platos republic. To have a good society, we must have good citizens.
This explains platos references to the ideas of the god head as the gods. To this, socrates answers that justice is in the most beautiful class of all. The republic book ii summary and analysis gradesaver. Consequently men make laws, and what the laws require, they call just. In plato s early dialogues, socrates refutes the accounts of his interlocutors and the discussion ends. No one shall take or carry away any of his neighbours goods, neither shall he use anything which is his neighbours without the consent of the owner.
It is generally accepted that the republic belongs to the dialogues of platos middle period. Plato s criticism of the mythology is anticipated in part by. The origin of justice is a compromise between right and wrong. Socrates, and hence socrates puppetmaster plato, have very specific ideas about the function of literature, to teach and the importance of censorship. What does socrates say about censorship in platos republic book three. If you tighten up censorship laws the society could ultimately be negatively. Plato, republic, book 2, page 377 tufts university. Interestingly the author of this translation doesnt agree that the laws shows how plato became more realistic when he realized that the idealistic society described in the republic could never become a reality.
The dialogue on theological principles picks up where it left off in the previous book. It was totally a waste of time to read these vague and complicated books. In my philosophy of art course, we are discussing platos philosophy of art, by means of selections from statesman and books 3 greekms and 10 of the. His vessel for showing this is through the forming of an ideal city. Platos criticism of the mythology is anticipated in part by euripides, xenophanes, heracleitus, and pythagoras. Plato, the great philosopher of athens, was born in 427 bce.
He examines several poetic descriptions of courage the overcoming of fear of death and of. The republic by plato, part of the internet classics archive. In this animated encounter between a foreign philosopher and a powerful statesman, not only do we see reflected, in platos own thought, eternal questions of the. It is known as a socratic dialogue and is perhaps one of platos best known works. Considered something of a magnum opus by scholars of classical philosophy, in this book plato sets out the principles of legal theory, and how each principle comes to be applied in civilized, organized society.
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. Plato begins the republic with the line i went down to the piraeus. 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 two, socrates, thrasymachus and adeimantus decide to focus on a. And now having spoken of assaults, let us sum up all acts of violence under a single law, which shall be as follows. There are nearer approaches to modern metaphysics in the philebus and in the sophist. Assuming plato is a skillful dramatist and that there is purpose to every detail, what is the significance of this opening. Jan 31, 2017 the ideal city republic book 2 summary 2 of 2 christopher anadale. Plato book ii of the republic on censorship aesthetics today. Decharme, euripides and the spirit of his dramas, translated by james loeb, chap. 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.
But we do not want them to turn against their fellow citizens. Poetry and stories need to be censored to guarantee such an education 377b. Jan 12, 20 what does socrates say about censorship in plato s republic book three. The ideal city republic book 2 summary 2 of 2 youtube. The republic is a sprawling work with dazzling details and an enormously wideranging. His stance is perhaps summarized in book ii of the republic by the phrase that literature may be either true or false, i. I put off reading it due to a lack of interest in political science, but another influential book on the subject, the prince by niccolo machiavelli, drove me to plato, to seek refuge, so to speak, from the cynical argument that. 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. Our story begins as socrates and his friend glaucon head home from a festival. The laws by plato are the final and lengthiest dialogue written by the renowned ancient greek philosopher. The republic of plato before i started reading platos the republic, i was loathe to admit that reading those philosophy books were gonna really change how i view myself. Despite the inconclusive end of the previous book, glaucon and adeimantus, platos brothers, are eager to pursue the quest for the true nature of justice. This education is most often noted for its carefully censored reading list.
Platos republic was one of the best books ive ever read. Censorship in platos republic in the republic, plato plays around with the argument that it is better to be just than unjust. 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. Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. 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. Unlike most of plato s dialogues, socrates does not appear in the laws. Socrates says that it is pointless to worry over specific laws, like those. I wish i had read it twenty years ago, but perhaps i would not have appreciated it then as much as i do now. Is it telling the truth and returning what you receive. 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. Res publica is a socratic dialogue, authored by plato around 375 bc, concerning justice.
1413 801 367 135 1188 854 299 82 196 980 358 1027 1456 639 29 291 1156 797 247 47 1288 545 775 712 986 880 1377 1422 1374 52 829 300 97 663 603