In my PHIL 451 class, we had the pleasure of reading Plato's Republic; an extensive work that examines many ideas including Justice, Virtue, the ideal city and the soul, just to name a few. Within the text, Plato presents the concepts of the Allegory of the Cave, the Simile of the Line, and Just City and the Tri-part soul; ideas that have had a profound impact on Western thought.
The Republic can be considered a work of art because of its style and composition. By looking at the other dialogues by Plato it is easy to see that the Republic was written in a more creative fashion that emphasizes the use of characters and stylized speech
Likewise, the way in which information and thought are presented can be viewed as a story. Plato's usage of metaphors and myth is also very artistic. Instead of stating blatantly what he is trying to get across, the uses a dialectic to engage the reader and present ideas in and artistic way.
It has also been said that perhaps the Republic is satirical, or that certain parts are not to be taken as seriously. Satire is a common tool used by writers to express an idea that society believe is true, and presenting it in a was that seems foolish and silly. Other examples or satire include Gulliver's Travels, Catch-22 and Dr. Strangelove.
No comments:
Post a Comment