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Homer'sThe Iliad & Plato's Meno

An examination of PlatoÆs Meno and HomerÆs The Iliad demonstrates a clash of values and ideas between Plato and Homer. This clash of values and ideas is most expressed in four areas. First, Plato views poetry such as HomerÆs epic as based on metaphor and distanced from the truth. In this manner, he finds such works to be misleading because they encourage individuals to seek poetic reality rather than the ôgood.ö Second, HomerÆs depiction of the gods in The Iliad as being in possession of both good and bad qualities directly clashes with PlatoÆs view of the gods as the embodiment of all that is good. Third, Plato critiques The Iliad as leading to bad behavior in individuals and disharmony in cities because it relies upon emotion rather than ration. This goes against PlatoÆs view of justice, which must rely upon ration. Fourth, HomerÆs The Iliad demonstrates a fear of death in his depiction of Hades; something Plato felt would lead to warriors or city protectors who lacked bravery and courage. This analysis will review this clash of ideas and ideals, as expressed in The Iliad and The Meno as well as viewed from the perspective of Friedrich Nietzsche.

PlatoÆs worldview as expressed in Meno and other dialogues encompasses the argument that imitative forms of art lead away from the truth. Plato finds poetry, with its use of metaphors and false images, to be particularly dangerous. Epic poetry like HomerÆs The Iliad leads people away from the truth. This is particularly true with PlatoÆs definition of gods as embodying all that is good, in contrast to HomerÆs version of the gods. HomerÆs gods are often angry, emotional, violent and petty, qualities not associated with virtue to Plato and, therefore, not representative of truth about gods. Plato argues that the gods are capable of producing only the good, but we see in The Iliad this theory clashes with HomerÆs view. In Book One, we learn that Achilleus ha...

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Homer'sThe Iliad & Plato's Meno. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 08:38, March 29, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1711499.html