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Plato's Thoughts on Writing |
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For me it is interesting to see a great mind like Plato not enjoy the art of writing or poetry. He does not see the worth of words written down but insteand sees them as a mimesis( a copy or imitation). In fact he comments on people that write poetry as being inspired by a divine madness and leading others further away from the truth. The truth he talks about is that of dialogue, believing that it strengthens the mind. In turn the act of |
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writing will weaken the mind and people will never be able to fully develop an idea. "For a poet is an airy thing, winged and holy and he is not able to make poetry until he becomes inspired and goes out of his mind and his intellect is no longer in him." From that we can see that Plato does not like the idea of poetry or writing at all. He thinks it is bad, untrue, and harmful to you. |
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(Plato) |
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(Plato) |
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Now that we all know what Plato thinks about literature in his time, would that opinion change if he were alive today? If he saw all the great literature that has come out of periods like the Romantic, Victorian, and Modern, would he view writing and poetry in another way. I think Plato saw literature as being weak, but really it was just getting started. The amount of literature that has proceeded him is vast along with the many great minds that wrote it. If you have any ideas on this email me at [email protected] |
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These two art pieces show Socrates, which was Plato's character he used in writings like Ion. |
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