The Importance Of Imitations On Art In Plato's Republic

In Plato’s Republic, we are given insight on how Plato perceives imitation on art. Plato mentions that dim eyes often see things before sharp ones. (596a) This we can interpret as a normal person being able to see things as they are rather than someone who is more knowledgeable and more analytical. To be able to see things as they are is a better approach in understanding imitation. Too much analysing can make the person overlook what is being seen; the person will end up complicating the issue.

In part 10 of his book, it enables us to see how Socrates feels about artists—specifically how their creations are stretched from the truth. Art manipulates the truth which pushes it to the area of becoming what is real. For instance, there is one

Along with artists, Plato aims to dispel poets as well. The only thing poets can do is imitate imitations of the truth. They corrupt everyone who reads and listens to their work being that they are twice removed from the area of becoming. If anyone were to claim or is said to know everything, they must be deceiving the people and be an imitator. One must closely examine whether to see if what they say is true or if it is not. Homer, for example, spoke ample amount about governing and war yet Socrates uncovers that he never actually governed and was never a leader for any war. If Homer had known much about these subjects as he had claimed to when he mentioned them, he much rather would have participated in them, leaving behind deeds that he could be admired for instead of just simply talking about them. Consequently, we can conclude that Homer was just a poetic imitator who actually did not know the truth or comprehend the reality but only of the

They are limited to the ideas and phantom figures but not what really exists in the physical world. The reason being that they are only limited to the ideas and figures is due to the fact they do not possess the sufficient level of knowledge to see what is beyond the little they know. They say poets are all knowing because to make a well written piece, one must know what he is writing about. Hence, we need to decide if what they’re saying is true or if they have been deceived, making it to where they are unable to see that the poet’s work is is three times removed from the truth since they are not real. (598e) Moreover, poetry should be banished according to Socrates for the reason that no poet should be allowed to write on ideas or subjects that they do not have any experience or knowledge. Poets are able to imitate things like peace and vibrancy to display their creations charm. Although what they lack is substance. If a poem was removed of its charm then it would resemble a person who is no longer youthful.

Poets present scenes that are so far removed from the truth, turning them away from what is the most real to what is the least real. These images that they portray do not imitate the morality of the soul. The logical part of the soul is not easy to understand or imitate because it is solid and tranquil. The thing that poets do is imitating the worst parts, the tendencies that make characters lively