Plato
Jacqueline Germano
College Writing II (1-2:15 p.m.)
Assignment #1
February 26, 2014 In Plato's The Republic, the author has to use rhetoric because of its controversial content. In order for Plato to create his idea of a perfect society, he makes the argument that censorship is essential for the benefit of the society as a whole. Though his idea opposes the fundamental beliefs of his audience, Plato creates a rhetorical strategy that disputes the case in which there must be censorship within the Republic. Plato also argues that monitoring what the children are exposed to will ultimately benefit not only the children, but the entire Republic. In order for Plato to get his audience to agree with this proposal to censor art in the Republic, he foregrounds his own love of Homer and his emphasis on children by his sense of mutual sacrifice. Plato is aware that in order to create a perfect society, he must first begin by educating the mind of youth to shape their character. To have a good society, we must first have good citizens. To have good citizens, children must be well-educated first. To be well-educated, children must be exposed to good material and shielded from the "bad" material. The youth must be taught by the Guardians and exposed to stories of both truth and fiction. The Guardians are the most intelligent and dominant select few people in the Republic who have the power of overseeing, regulating, and creating rules for those within the society. According to Plato, "the true object of education is to teach as to love what is beautiful" (100). While the mind is still simple and easy to mold, Plato states the learning process must first begin with fiction. Plato's idea is that the children in the society are permitted from listening to any stories or viewing any art that does not portray a truthful life. In order for this to happen, the productions of the stories will be supervised and there will be a selection of suitable stories to be told. These
College Writing II (1-2:15 p.m.)
Assignment #1
February 26, 2014 In Plato's The Republic, the author has to use rhetoric because of its controversial content. In order for Plato to create his idea of a perfect society, he makes the argument that censorship is essential for the benefit of the society as a whole. Though his idea opposes the fundamental beliefs of his audience, Plato creates a rhetorical strategy that disputes the case in which there must be censorship within the Republic. Plato also argues that monitoring what the children are exposed to will ultimately benefit not only the children, but the entire Republic. In order for Plato to get his audience to agree with this proposal to censor art in the Republic, he foregrounds his own love of Homer and his emphasis on children by his sense of mutual sacrifice. Plato is aware that in order to create a perfect society, he must first begin by educating the mind of youth to shape their character. To have a good society, we must first have good citizens. To have good citizens, children must be well-educated first. To be well-educated, children must be exposed to good material and shielded from the "bad" material. The youth must be taught by the Guardians and exposed to stories of both truth and fiction. The Guardians are the most intelligent and dominant select few people in the Republic who have the power of overseeing, regulating, and creating rules for those within the society. According to Plato, "the true object of education is to teach as to love what is beautiful" (100). While the mind is still simple and easy to mold, Plato states the learning process must first begin with fiction. Plato's idea is that the children in the society are permitted from listening to any stories or viewing any art that does not portray a truthful life. In order for this to happen, the productions of the stories will be supervised and there will be a selection of suitable stories to be told. These