Poetry and Myth in Plato's Politeia

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  • プラトン 『ポリテイア』 における詩と物語
  • プラトン 『 ポリテイア 』 ニ オケル シ ト モノガタリ

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Abstract

This article explores the reason why Plato sees poetry and myth useful for children's education in Book 2 and 3 of Politeia while banishing them from his ideal polis in Book 10. I address this problem firstly by interpreting the definition of mimêsis in Book 10. It shall be shown that the effect of mimesis on the audience - its making them identify themselves with characters in poetry - could be seen as the ground why Plato purges poetry from his ideal polis. In Book 10, however, he compares Homer to lawgivers and indicates that poetry should serve as a foundation for the steering of polis. This observation leads to the discussion of Book 2 and 3 how poetry could also be useful. This article analyzes, then, the elements in which the usefulness of poetry and myth for education consists.

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