Plato says that art has no place in perfect society. What then, is the definition of a perfect society? Can anyone imagine a perfect society without art? In a world of perfection, no one would make mistakes, rationality would be always be accepted over irrationality, and no one would be unhappy because they are doing exactly what they’re designed to do; to continue. Without any conflict where there is a complete subscription to one ideology that goes without question. There isn’t time for freedoms because people don’t have the power of free will. This sounds like a robot society, to be completely honest.
Plato’s main critique of art is that it is an imitation of an imitation. This means that the artist is making an imitation of something he/she sees and the product of that imitation in their mind produces an imitation that the rest of us can see. “Art is dangerous, for its appeal to the irrational distracts us from the legitimate claims of reason” (The Nature of Art 14). I ask: is it irrational to give your life for someone that you love? Maybe, but that is a decision isn’t for society to make. Our ability to make our own decisions is what makes us human.
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