Plato and art: Controversies, political engagement and education
Abstract
Plato’s views on art are rather controversial and provocative. On the one hand he maintains a suspicion for artists, reaching the point to claim that they should be expelled from the ideal city that he envisages and describes in his Republic. On the opposite side he considers artistic training, in music and poetry in particular but not in painting, as an essential component of the good education, again in the Republic, elevating art’s role in the society. Various attempts have been made by Platonic scholars to interpret and consolidate these seemingly contrasting notions, by focusing on Plato’s usage of myths, in his literary style that involves dialogues, and other elements. Here I suggest an additional point that is based on the premise that Plato differentiates arts depending on their substance, viewing painting, poetry, and music with progressively decreasing hostility. He also targets primarily the artist and his social role but dissociates the artistic creation, which becomes the property of the city. As such, art can and should be censored, and it should be politically charged and engaged, for the collective benefit.
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6667/interface.25.2024.228
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