Keywords
poetry
Republic
myth
How to Cite
Abstract
Plato thinks that philosophy must explain the whole and unity which gives foundation to all that there is. But if this is so, rational language is not enough to say all that must be said. It is then necessary to explore other kinds of expressions, like poetry, in the attempt to see if they can express unity and wholeness, or to state the limits of rational language and put forth the possibility of a philosophical silence.
This paper seeks to explore some of Plato's approximations to poetry in his search for a language that can express the whole, having in mind three different aspects: 1) Plato uses a form of writing that brings him close to poetry, drama and myth, but he doesn't welcome poets in his ideal State; 2) Plato rejects the irrational aspect of poetry and myth, but he uses myths and metaphors when he must explain the most difficult parts of his philosophy; 3) Plato finally rejects all language, oral or written, and proposes the silence of reason in the Seventh Letter.
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