Plato's Censorship

In Plato’s The Allegory of the Cave and Freire’s The“Banking” Concept of Education, the idea of education and restrictions is discussed and pondered on. In The Allegory of the Cave, Plato tells us his ideas and beliefs through a story that involves three prisoners who are chained up in a cave. Their backs are towards the entrance, and they are only exposed to shadows and echoes. When one of the prisoners is released he enters a world filled with confusion and disbelief. In Freire’s The “Banking” Concept of Education, he addresses his notions of today’s education system by setting the scene of students in a classroom who are only given a teacher and the teacher’s knowledge. Although Plato’s The Allegory of the Cave shows that people are restricted in knowing the truth because they are chained up and Freire thinks that students can release themselves from their restrictions by questioning the higher power , I claim that both Plato and Freire make similar arguments because both claim that the reason to why we are restricted is because our perception of truth comes from only one source that is given to us.

On the subject of the Guardians, education is one of high importance. The Guardians are meant to be brought up in such a way that the City can depend on them to not only being highly intelligent but also fierce fighters. Plato breaks down their education into two categories : gymnastics and music. These two categories serve to enhance both the body and mind to the highest level. However, it is important to note that Plato planned to filter and censor the majority of what was given to the Guardians in the mind category. This filter included removing any and all teachings of Greek mythology, as well as only allowing the Guardians to study what was deemed beautiful and just by Plato and his attendants. The claim made to support this was “ we can

Our world today puts huge amounts of emphasis on education, specifically in order to get a better job, make more money or take enjoyment in what we do. We see a similar importance placed on education in Socrates’ make believe city, as described in Plato’s Republic. However, Socrates has made it clear that this education is not for personal betterment or gain, but rather for the common good. Socrates has created his Republic with education of its citizens at the core. This education is put in place to serve many functions, such as development of preferred character traits for the warrior class, creation of equality between the sexes and as a means of indication as to what jobs would suit which

These singular pieces must match and intertwine to create a scenic picture. Individuals must realize that they are part of something bigger than themselves, for the wellbeing of society. Education, along with a diploma, is physical proof that you can succeed in your profession as a functional being, fitting perfectly in an operative society. Moreover, with education, the idea of a good society will be further enforced. A good society as defined by Draper and Ramsay (6), is a society that can prosper by giving its citizens basic physical rights such as security and health. Furthermore, a good society should lend its citizens a political voice and give its people access to education that will help they make their own conclusions. To emphasize the last point, the essay states, “People who are illiterate are said to be ‘blind’”, which is an interesting allusion to Plato’s allegory. By stressing individualism through

We have been talking about education for several years. In Book V, Plato writes about what

Plato continues to relate the categories of a just state to the individual soul. He says that the soul has different parts to it as well and for them to be in harmony is for

In chapter 7 of Plato's book The Republic, Socrates describes the importance and benefits of education and philosophy. He makes specific points and examples to show that without growing humanity would suffer. Also, Socrates also shows how one man learning can change a whole group of people. Socrates proves that education opens the eyes of many and he does that by using the allegory of the cave. Socrates describes the allegory of the cave by describing a story about a group of prisoners that have lived in a dark cave their whole lives.

Plato 1. Republic Book II a. Education involves physically exercising the body and exposing the mind to cultural studies. 1. The act of educating people’s minds can be completed by sharing stories and studying literature. 2.

In the Republic, Plato proposes the complete censorship of imitative poetry from his ideal city, arguing that it corrupts individuals’ souls and therefore has a negative effect on society, resulting in injustice within the city. Although seemingly trivial at first, when considered within its proper context, the censorship of imitative poetry from the city would result in severe consequences. Throughout this essay I will discuss the political and psychological implications of its censorship, and will also refute Plato’s argument, showing how it lacks soundness: notably, through a criticism of his epistemology. Regarding the political implications of the censorship of poetry, I will draw from the ideas of Karl Popper, who argued Plato to be one of the most influential philosophers on the emergence of totalitarian regimes in the 20th century, laying the foundations for their very existence (K. Popper, 1945). I will also show how poets themselves have an important political role within cities, in that they enable the general population to hold the state accountable for their actions. To discuss the psychological implications of poetry’s censorship, I will compare the contrasting views of Plato and Aristotle regarding its effect on the soul, whereby Aristotle claims that poetry actually has beneficial, cathartic effects. Following these criticisms, it will become apparent that Plato’s proposed ban of imitative poetry is indefensible.

Denise Palacios Professor Nickie Medina English Composition 122 October 6, 2016 Summary In the book, The Story of Ethics: Fulfilling Our Human Nature by Kelly James Clark and Anne Poortenga, theories conspired by several philosophers that were originated in different eras are analyzed. Amongst the analyzations, the meaning of an education is determined to be arbitrary yet essential for a functional society. Included within the text are several philosophical concepts from multiple ethical theorists, primarily Socrates and Plato, that bring into question the moral significance of an education through defining education as relevant to their time. For instance, the image Plato paints of the components of a “just,” also known as righteous, person

Plato's Republic is a blueprint for his ideal society. In his republic education is something only attainable to the philosopher-kings. It is beneficial for the philosopher-kings to be very well educated so they will make good decisions while they are ruling the republic. The reason that no one else should receive such an elaborate education (in Plato's opinion) is because the rest of the people in the city only need to do what they are specialized in. This seems to be divergent from what Socrates previously said, ."..the power to learn is present in everyone's

He found that there was no order in everyday life; history was composed of the downfalls of man, follies that were repeated generation after generation. He believed that the only way to purge one’s body from the cycle of unending meaninglessness was to live by logic. Logic allowed the body to exist in harmony with the soul by casting aside anything without meaning. The unity of body and soul represented ultimate control. Plato stated, “When the soul and body are united, then nature orders the soul to rule and govern, and the body to obey and serve” (513). When the soul was in complete control, the bodily weaknesses disappeared and the mind was left to think freely. Eventually, through thought, one could achieve bodily transcendence and purpose within life.

Division of the soul into three parts- Much like the city is split into different parts to access justice more readily, the soul of the individual is also divided into three parts. The three parts of the soul according to Plato are appetite, spiritual, and rational. The largest part of the soul is the appetite which is the part of the spirit that does the desiring for different aspects of life, whether good or bad. It is the balance of the different parts of the soul that allows a person to have justice. By allowing each section of the soul to do its own thing without meddling with the other, you allow yourself to be most efficient and therefore can more readily find justice within.

explains his belief that the “soul exists before, and survives the body”. Plato 's beliefs of

As Plato advocates that soul belongs to different order from body, so it cannot be set alongside the body as homogeneous entity. The soul’s penchant is towards another world. It becomes evident, why the senses are envisaged, not as windows but as bars, since so far as the physical nature of man is concerned it is not just a matter of noting, ontologically, the finite character of its existence, but rather one making an ethical and religious value-judgment on this earthly life form the viewpoint of higher destiny. Only when the soul has undergone an inner transformation and been duly prepared for this it can looks at the body in a fresh light, as it were, and so discover as meaningful affinity between soul and body, which serves to orientate man towards the higher reality.