Plato does want artists to be kept away from the ideal state he envisions in his book, Republic. Plato believed that art and artists were shaped by his philosophical concerns rather than a mere disdain for aesthetic pleasure. He believed that art, including poetry, drama, and painting, was inferior to the ultimate truth and that it had the potential to be disruptive to the formation of a strong moral character needed in an administrator or a citizen of his Utopia.
Further, he says that art is twice removed from reality. And art takes men away from reality. That does not contribute to the development of men, it helps neither to mould character nor to promote the well-being of the state. Here are some key points that illustrate Plato’s desire to exclude artists from his ideal state:
The following are the major reasons Plato banished artists from the state, Utopia
Philosophical Concerns:
Plato’s primary aim was philosophical, focusing on the pursuit of truth beyond mere representation. He was suspicious of emotional arousal and the use of words to establish emotional truth, which he believed could sway audiences away from the pursuit of higher knowledge. This is one of the major reasons for excluding artists from the ideal state promoted by Plato.
Educational System:
In Plato’s ideal state, rulers and helpers were not merely administrators or military strategists; they were philosophers who had a deep understanding of the true nature of things. Plato’s educational system emphasized the importance of his philosophical ideals. He argued that there was no room for the teaching of poetry and drama in this system, as they did not contribute to the knowledge of the world or the development of strong moral character. This is also another reason to Plato kept artists away from the state.
Critique of Greek Poetry:
Plato’s experiences with contemporary poetry were not an appreciated one. This experience led to the banishment of the artist from his ideal state. Plato found most poetry in the contemporary Greek curriculum, particularly the works of Homer, unsuitable because they depicted gods and heroes with moral flaws and sometimes even savagery. He believed that such examples were detrimental to the formation of a worthy character.
Critique of Art as Imitation:
Plato also criticized art as an untruthful representation of reality. Art is twice removed from reality. He argued that artists were not only imitating imperfect objects of the world but also pretending to know things they didn’t truly understand. This criticism extended to poets like Homer, whom Plato believed were misrepresenting truth.
Misleading Nature of Art:
Art appeals to emotion not reason. Poetry is a product of inspiration. Therefore it cannot protect reason. He saw art as diverting individuals from the pursuit of knowledge and moral excellence.
In summary, Plato’s ideal state was designed to be governed by philosopher-kings and individuals with a deep understanding of truth. In this context, he considered artists and their works as impediments to the pursuit of his philosophical and moral ideals, and thus, he wanted to keep artists away from his ideal state, Utopia.
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