Lit Theory Review - Plato - Republic, Book X

Précis for Plato’s Republic, Book X

             Plato’s Republic, Book X is a dialogue between Socrates and Glaucon.   The discussion outlines Socrates’s reasoning behind the ill effects of artistic endeavors.  More specifically, “that all poetical imitations are ruinous to the understanding of the hearers…” The foundation of Socrates’s position is that no man should be held in higher esteem than the truth.   That a painter’s work is far removed from the truth, poets are not knowledgeable of virtue, and poetry encourages emotions that impair reason are the arguments that build his position.   He illustrates his overarching concern, the protection of the immortal soul, be recounting the story of Er.

            Socrates’s first argument is the works of painters are far removed from the truth.  He outlines that there are three types of makers that create things.  There is god, who fashions the singular form, or the perfect idea of a thing.  There are craftsmen, who manufacture particulars of things, and there are painters, who create poetical imitations.  These imitations are appearances only and do not reflect the true essence of a thing, nor do they bring the viewer closer to the truth.  The pure form of a thing is the truth, a particular is one step removed and an imitation is two steps removed from the truth.   Of the makers, Socrates establishes that the painter’s imitations are the furthest from the truth.

Socrates furthers his arguments through the application of painters to poets.  He identifies the user, the maker and the imitator as the three arts.  The user and the maker, by working together, are able to craft items for their intended use.  They gain knowledge as to the goodness or badness of a thing through this process.  Imitators do not use or craft things and they are unable to discern if their renditions are good or bad relative to the real thing.   Poets are like painters and they do not have true knowledge of things, or of virtues.  As such, Socrates establishes that poets are ill equipped to speak to virtues.

            In addition, Socrates states that people are easily confused by imitations and their deceiving effects are akin to magic.  Poets are removed from the truth as they have no real knowledge of things or virtues.  They also focus their works to the inferior, or emotional part of the soul.  The final results are poetical imitations that are deceptive in content, as they lack true knowledge, and they are confusing as their delivery is aimed towards human emotion rather than the intellect.

            Socrates’s primary concern is the caretaking of the immortal soul.  He recounts a story of Er, a slain warrior given the opportunity to view the disbursements of punishments and rewards in the afterlife.  The description presents men making poor choices of potential souls, as they are unable to discern virtuous attributes.  Socrates’s arguments are intended to promote virtue and improve someone’s life and afterlife.  His position is to banish the artists as their works are deceptive, confusing and prohibits the development of virtuous actions and understanding.   Socrates and Glaucon, however, both agree they would reintroduce the artists if suitable defenses of their worth could be established.