Plato's ideal state ain't ideal.

The philosopher Plato disliked artists. Whether it be a writer, a painter, a composer. In his ideal state, if a poet was found, he’d be politely escorted to the border and asked to leave. The writer Iris Murdoch wrote an essay about Plato and his attitude toward art. That’s where I’m getting my impressions of Plato, rightly or wrongly. Plato thought art was frivolous. A waste of time. That artists should be truly living instead of imagining their creations. He frowned on works of literature. And ridiculed theatrical performances. Because they were pretend things. Not real life. I can see his point. Perhaps if one truly feels what one has written there would be no need to write about it. For a poet, feeling would be satisfaction enough. One wouldn’t have to put it all into written words. Just go and live it. In actual life. Same goes for music. If Beethoven can feel the Ode to Joy, that should be good enough. Feel it. No need to compose. Of course, I disagree with Plato. That is, if that’s what he’s really saying. Because I’m in love with the written word. Gives me the feeling of being alive. Same thing when I listen to Beethoven. I’m more aware of being alive. And in love. With music. With literature. With all sorts of artistic creation. If that’s not being truly alive, then I’m still gonna enjoy not being alive. And I’ll steer clear of Plato’s ideal state. –Jim Broede