One facet of Plato's teachings with which I strongly disagree is his proposal to "exclude poets and other artists from his ideal society, on the grounds that they appeal to the lower, non-rational parts of our nature" (p.87). One could argue that art impels individual, creative thought, and that individual thought may lead to dissent. However, one could equally as strongly argue that art and creative expression are vital in the process of psychological development. It allows people to think and imagine, and to process the world around them. Art of all forms has consistently been a ubiquitous element throughout every culture in existence. Visual, musical, and literary art are a means of communicating the feelings of the soul, and for some people, art may be their only means of communication. To eliminate this creativity would stifle multitudes of people and destroy so much potential beauty. Sticking a cork in an individual’s fountain of creativity would become incredibly detrimental to that individual’s creative/psychological development. Then again, the text directly states that Plato didn't really give a damn about the individual, so much as he did about the greater society as a whole.
Q: My question only indirectly relates to Plato, but it is a genuine question I have... Humans are naturally sexual beings, so why is our natural "sexual desire" so often shunned and seen as a reprehensible action? Is this disapproval restricted to promiscuity or does it encompass all sexual desire?
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