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Spells and the Thoughts of Tiresias

Spells and the Thoughts of Tiresias “Halliwell’s basic argument is that Socrates admits the Book X arguments to be insecure and open to defeat. He calls them ‘spells’ rather than philosophical knowledge, and he asserts that he must use them [those arguments]...

Sovereignty

               Sovereignty Modern poetry  modern verse  contemporary poetry  contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem “Is it simply that people who philosophize think that people who produce, consume, or appreciate poetry (the philopoiêtai) have the wrong...

Sing in Me, Rational Muse!

Sing in Me, Rational Muse! Plato’s “descriptions of poetic inspiration occur over a long period of time, ranging from his earliest works to his latest, and there is considerable uniformity in what he says.  Throughout P.’s work the mental state of the inspired poet is...

Poets as Healers

      Poets as Healers The first great poet, Orpheus, was called The Healer.  Is there some great truth involved In that?  Surely Plato wasn’t enthralled With poets.  Plato sneered.  He was resolved To say that they were more inclined to ill And that they couldn’t...

Poetry and Hateful Plato

Poetry and Hateful Plato Modern poetry  modern verse  contemporary poetry  contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem Alone among male populations of The ancient world (and modern) Plato held The poet Orpheus in hatred.  Love Of poets and of music had not...