(Originally written February 8, 2007 in Book 12)
Class Notes
Plato's cave analogy
1. Eternal forms are most real
2) The physical world is a representation of eternal forms
3) Art is a representation of the physical world, thus art is representation of a representation
Plato sees art as a necessarily subversive field in seeking true knowledge.
Plato's Ion
Ion is a raphsode, an expert on Homer.
Socrates does not believe Ion's skill of raphsode of Homer is in fact a skill or knowledge. If it were a trained skill then Ion would be skillful in all poets, not just Homer. Socrates believes that rhapsodes are interpreters of interpreters (poets).
Poets interpret the gods that possess them. Raphsodes interpret the interpreters (poet). Both possess neither skill nor knowledge, only divine inspiration. Artists are similar to prophets in their religiosity and ecstatic nature.
Three key differences between reason and inspiration.
1) Reason deals with nous (mind). Inspiration deals with madness.
2) Reason deals with possession of knowledge. Inspiration deals with possession by God.
3) Reason deals with human skill. Inspiration deals with divine power.
Questions
Does God or any other supernatural being inspire artists? If so, does he/it inspire all artists or some better artists?
Does sin block artistic inspiration?
Does moral struggle aid divine inspiration or mature such divine inspiration?
If artistic inspiration opposes technique why do artists study?
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