let's consider plato's republic by eguriase s. m. okaka

LET’S CONSIDER PLATO's REPUBLIC

BY EGURIASE S. M. OKAKA Plato was an ancient Greek philosopher, he lived about 500 AD. He was a student of a great philosopher named Socrates. Socrates was a great teacher who taught people with the use of questions. Philosophers are not specialized in one field but many fields of human endeavors. That was the breed of Plato, Socrates, Aristotle and many others. Plato studied soothsaying including the art. He did not write anything about the art but wrote a book called “The Republic”. His book in page 10, he said he would never allow artist to be there because they are evil and not good for the human race. In other words, Plato felt that they are dangerous to the human existences. We shall find out why he said so from his writings. The city Plato called “The Republic is all about a place of perfection. It is also called the Utopia, he intends to create. Let us look at four reasons why he would not allow artist to be there. They include: • They are liars. He said actors are liars. They are not fit to be in a perfect republic because the story they tell us is a copy of an imperfect work. They imitate the imitation of an imperfect imitation. • They pretend to be who they are not. He attributes that to living a force life. • They teach people bad things. They also imitate ugly things which they cannot beautify according to him. • Actors, Actresses, or dramatists are mad people because they do something to the influence of the Muse. Actors cannot explain why they do certain things because things are always influenced or orchestrated by some unknown and unseen forces. (Muse is a Greek god of inspiration). Plato felt that, actors teach people by talking of bad things, directly or indirectly. This was why he talked of Utopia a Republic where everything is nice and perfect, a city devoid of actors and actresses who may introduce imperfections. His thoughts are not different from the thoughts of many people in the society today; because drama/actors influence people in so many ways both positively and negatively. Whether it is positive or not, it is still passing a message across to it audience, whether it is negative yet it is still passing its message across to it audience. That is why people like me will always see drama as a veritable vehicle of thoughts because of its profit and delight. When you look vividly into Plato and his philosophies I would conclude that, actors were among the first groups of artist Plato come across with who may have had positive or negative influenced on him that

is why he wrote about them in his book titled the ‘The Republic’. He was completely accurate with what he had asserted about them considering the double lifestyles actors lived in our neighborhood. If I had to rewrite Plato’s ‘Republic’ I will have to focus on the present day African Politicians. They would not be in such place like what Plato said of actors. Politicians are liars not one not two but all. They promised what they knew that they cannot do even if they are given a 100 years in office. They embrace old men and old women during their campaigns but lock their doors to them after they have won and occupied government offices. They embezzle the people’s wealth and make them to die in penury. How can we be enslaves in our own country? They become hostile to the people and become self-centered after they entered office. Consider this: if you were a Gatekeeper in an heavenly city. Would you allow politicians to enter such a righteous place? Your answer is as good as mine. By Eguriase S. M. Okaka