The Humanities Index

Book Five of Plato’s Republic addresses the role of women in the republic. Socrates narrates this dialogue, while Glaucon plays the role of interlocutor. Since their talk concerns women, the issues of love, procreation, and ability seem to be their primary focus. Yet, before the topic of women can begin, Socrates must address, even if briefly, [...]

In Book X of the Republic, Plato states: “all poetical imitations are ruinous to the understanding of the hearers, and that the knowledge of their true nature is the only anidote to them.” Plato believed that imitation of sensible objects removed the poet, and the observer, from truth and reality by inspiring the emotions of [...]