Response to 9-12-11 Prompt

The two most important forms of education are "gymnastic for the body and music for the soul" (376). Since body takes passive action and longer time to develop, Plato concludes that molding the mind (soul) with music must come first. Though Plato includes literature in music, he says that one of the problems with society is that children are first taught fiction; though fiction is permissible, there should be censorship on "casual tales... devised by casual persons" (376). He mentions Homer and Hesiod by name claiming that they tell lies by misrepresenting the heroes and gods and that any such misrepresentations are a "true lie" and cause the misdirection of the soul. "These tales must not be admitted into our state... for a young person cannot judge what is allegorical and what is literal" (378). Since Plato wants the young to be modeled on virtuous thought, they must not be exposed to misrepresentation of theology, mockery/humor in the examples of the gods, or any lack of virtuosity at all on part of the gods or else "...everyone will begin to excuse his own vices when he is convinced that similar wickednesses are always being perpetrated by 'the kindred of the gods...'" (391)

Plato continues on by addressing the misconceptions about the state of men; "story-tellers are guilty... when they tell us that wicked men are often happy, and the good miserable...--these things we shall forbid them to utter, and command them to sing and say the opposite" (392). When a guardian speaks, he should strive to imitate the proper character while mostly narrating his own story. When listening to or playing music, the three parts-- words, melody, and rhythm-- all must be in harmony, with no dissonance and/or melancholic progressions, and the timbre must be of the type to produce minimal/complicated expression.

Essentially, Plato is assuming that people use music to strike a particular emotion. His concern with this is that the guardian ought to be ignorant (or rejecting) of anything not representing virtuosity-- his duty as a societal leader.