Homer in Plato’s State

Abstract

Abstract poetry in the civic community: compare Orr. 3 and 15-16 (the place of the philosopher); 22 and 25 (the place of philosophical discourse); 38 (the place of the liberal arts); and 4 and 26. The thematic connection with Orr. 4 and 26 is particularly close, since they too deal with the poetry of Homer (the latter exclusively and the former to a large extent); but at the same time there is a difference in emphasis. Orr. 4 and 26 use allegorical reading to vindicate poetry’s role in any and every good community; the present lecture, while allowing Homer’s poetry its allegorical import (§ 4), seeks to argue that there are some communities where it is nevertheless surplus to requirements. The reason for this divergence is of course Maximus’ desire both to praise Homer and to vindicate Plato’s notorious decision not to allow his poetry into the ideal state (Resp. 377aff., with the celebrated dismissal at 398a; the second discussion of poetry, in Resp. 595a ff., does not enter into the discussion).