PlatoRepublic books I, III, X, and Symposium
...ght in order to understand and be capable of comprehending the notion of right and wrong. I find this to be one of Plato’s greatest points he makes as he explains the necessity of censoring art. Young children learn right from wrong through example and what they are told. There is no better portion of society to protect then children, for they are the future of the society. Their belief in what is right and wrong will transfer into the laws and views of the society as they grow older and take on more influential positions within the society. Plato goes on to state that certain written works portray the world below to be this horrible, awful place, leaving the reader with a fear of death. This fear of death, however, gives warriors of the society the wrong idea. “But if they are to be courageous, must they not learn other lessons besides these, and lessons of such a kind as will take away the fear of death?” (page 16). Plato believes that a man who is afraid of death will choose slavery over death. This is dishonorable because this shows surrender instead of perseverance and a willingness to fight. Those who are afraid of death will not fight the way warriors should fight. Plato argues that any art, which portrays the world below in a horrible manner or speaks of a fear of death, should not be permitted in society because this influences warriors to fear death. Thus, causing them to surrender to slavery when their life is in jeopardy and leave their state in jeopardy. Completely inappropriate behavior for a warrior. Taking an overall look at Plato’s censor of art, I find that the argument he makes for the cause is one that is still being debated in today’s society. As a modern society, we have passed legislature req...