While I am completely able to see Socrates's reasons for choosing to banish the poets from the just city, it doesn't mean that I like his decision. His reasoning and logic make sense, but after years of reading and listening to great poetry that can teach virtue and positive characteristics, it is just painful to see him cast this artistic group aside. Sadly, however, it seems one can have no imperfection within the perfect city. Ironically enough, that statement leads to my next question.
If everyone else is expected to act without fault and not allow a single iota of corruption into the just city, why is it that the poets are unable to do this? Is poetry naturally unjust in Socrates's eyes? If writers and musicians can make their art with the same emotion and feeling that a poet would and still allow their art to be censored by the state if needed, why couldn't the poets do the same?
Now, there may be something I'm missing or just something I didn't pick up on, but I am confused about this subject.
Would anyone like to enlighten me or just share their opinion on the matter?
P.S. I commented on Caroline Tucker's and Abigale Bell's posts.
As someone very versed in the performing arts, I feel as though we are storytellers at the core of what we do. Think about theater production or music, the words and lines written are done so with a deeper meaning in mind for the audience to decipher. If poets are not allowed, then neither is creative expression. People need creative outlets to express themselves or they would just be robotic drones.
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