Signs of a Rehabilitation of the Literature in Plato about Laws, 809e2-812b1 y 817a1-e1

Abstract

After the sharp criticism and banishment of the poets in Republic, 2.3 and 10, the platonic poetology of Laws, 2 y 7 surprisingly takes up a remarkably propositional style. This type of emphasis can be interpreted in different ways and, we could even believe that, in his last work, Plato managed to rehabilitate Literature as some useful material for his new political project for Magnesia. By “rehabilitation” of Literature I mean the reallocation of a specific place for poetry in the platonic project of the second best state, in order to use its performative potentiality to set —as far as possible— a social life based on the common constellation of true beliefs.In this article I propose to discuss some texts in Laws, 7 on the basis of which I think it could be possible to identify some evidence of that platonic rehabilitation. (Due to the fact that its length is restricted, this presentation will necessarily have to leave aside some other texts which I would have liked to include and analyse). In short, I will defend the thesis that, on the basis on the references listed in Laws, 7 regarding a new platonic poetry, it might be interpreted that the philosopher has re-integrated Literature in his educational project —thought not in Republic— and that, in this context, has paid special attention to tragedy, though having given a previous reformulation of the typical sense of what is “serious”.