PLATO:
Basic Concepts I
Plato’s Republic is a search for the “form” of
JUSTICE
mimesis: “imitation” [subject of both Book
III & Book X. ]
What does he think mimesis is? Do you
agree?
He believes that there is a problem with
imitating the “wrong kind” of character - this has a bad effect on us.
This belief is tied to his notions of
“virtue” and “justice”
PLATO:
Basic Concepts II
arete: "virtue" -- mostly Book III
Greek notion of "virtue" implies being
good AT something
Plato's society is "just" only when all
parts of society do that which they are
"good at“
dike: justice - the Greek word implies
the notion of path or way
PLATO:
Basic Concepts III
form: Book X
How do you know this is a chair?
A book?
A good thing?
Plato believed that everything in the
physical world was a copy of an
abstract, timeless pattern for things
of that sort.
This pattern or ideal was what he
called a "form"
The 4 levels of Plato's World View
[metaphysics & epistemology]
What we “know”
How we “know” What kind of “knowing”
FORMS
[abstraction]
KNOWLEDGE
HYPOTHESES
[math objects]
UNDERSTANDING
VISIBLE THINGS [physical objects] BELIEF or
OPINION
IMAGES
[image/reflections] PERCEPTION
or IMAGINING
To think about …
Where does Plato place art?
Why is art “three times removed from the
throne of truth”?
Why is Plato so determined to censor art?
[Book III]
Why does he ban poets from the Republic?
[Book X]
sophists - can't know truth, so just learn
to persuade people [the art of rhetoric]
poets - were claiming knowledge. Plato
asks Homer what state he has ruled etc…
Plato Reading Questions:
Selection from BOOK III
discussion of what is appropriate for the
education of children.
What argument does he give for censorship?
How does he think art affects us? Do you
agree?
Selection from BOOK X
relationship of art and truth.
Why does Plato think art is far from "truth"?
What is he assuming about the nature of art?
Do you agree?
Reminders for Plato & Aristotle:
Both are concerned with the effect
that art has on us.
Each makes recommendations about the
form art should take in order to fulfill
its proper function.
They differ more on the function than
the form.