Drama and the Limits of Philosophy: On Poetry and Philosophy in Plato's Republic (Philosophy, 16 pp.) (original) (raw)

The Quarrel Between Poetry and Philosophy: Plato - A Sceptical View on ‘Poetry’

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2013

theoretical views on poetry that show the manner in which the Western culture had outlined the idea of literature. Admittedly, one of the most important moments in theoretical views on poetry (as presented in Apology of Socrates, Ion and Republic) in connection with an analysis of the ry denies tradition and its role, while trad represents the birth of an analytical perspective on poetry, seen as a particular cultural phenomenon.

Plato, Aristotle the Dialectics of Poetry

International Journal on Integrated Education

The present paper attempts at estimating the legacy of two of the seminal philosophical minds, Plato and Aristotle. Their ideas have been so instrumental in shaping western critical literary tradition that any discussion on literary theory and criticism has to have them as a point of reference. Plato’s negative conception of mimesis is juxtaposed with Aristotle’s affirmative stand. The paper also examines the various philosophical and pragmatic charges labelled against poetry by Plato in his works such as Republic, Phaedrus and Ion. The paper concludes with a general overview of critical responses to Plato by succeeding men of letters.

The Agon between Philosophy and Poetry

Athletics, Gymnastics, and Agon in Plato, 2020

In Republic 607b, in the context of justifying the exclusion of a certain kind of poetry from the city, Socrates refers to an old quarrel between philosophy and poetry. In this agonistic dispute, which involved harsh words from both parties, Plato himself played a major role and the extensive restrictions Socrates imposes on poetry in the Republic would denounce his view that philosophy, and not poetry, should have the final word when it comes to molding Greek education. When one analyses Socrates’ arguments against traditional poetry, one serious accusation he seems to be open to is that of selectively choosing his quotations from the poets and intentionally distorting their meaning, sometimes by presenting them out of context and supposing that a regular reader/hearer would also do the same. However, in the Republic, before Socrates imposes his restrictions on poetry, Plato introduces Glaucon’s and Adeimantus’ initial speeches, which play a key role in understanding why Socrates distorts the poets. A thorough reading of the brother’s speeches intended to present the “majority’s” views on justice will reveal that they also distort and interpret the poets in a way that fits their own purposes. This seems to be Plato’s strategy to make the reader understand that a distorted reading and appropriation of the contents of poetry is not a far cry from what can actually happen if poetry is not purified of its ambiguities, precisely the sort of ambiguities some of Socrates’ restrictions aim to prevent.

The Old Quarrel Between Philosophy and Poetry

The quarrel between philosophy and poetry has implications for our lives as both citizens and ordinary human beings. By closely reading and interpreting Book X of Plato’s Republic, which judges poetry by the standard of truth, and Aristophanes’ Clouds, which provides a comic critique of philosophy, we may see that the philosopher and the poet seem to engage in conversation, addressing similar points from opposing views and outlining the terms of their disagreement. This thesis aims to point to questions raised and answered by the poet and the philosopher about the status of reason in governing the soul and the city, the best life for human beings according to their nature, and the role of laws and convention in our lives and relationships. It also applies the discussion of these topics to issues of free expression today, and explores moral authority as both the philosopher and the poet see it.

The Quarrel between Poetry and Philosophy. Introduction

2015

The article introduces to the volume on the quarrel between poetry and philosophy, by focusing on Leo Strauss's interpretation of this issue in Plato, who is widely recognized as the originator of the quarrel. Furthermore, the article describes how the quarrel is developed in the philosophical and poetic perspectives of some key thinkers such as Leopardi, Benjamin and Proust