Ideal State: A Study of Poetry

Author: Wang Ke-ping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: Plato's Republic is universally recognized as a classic. This book is based on the relevant historical and cultural context and textual semantic analysis, drawing on existing Western research and a method of secondary reflection, attempting to re-examine and reposition the poetic thought of Republic. Plato's poetics is a moral idealism poetics with a political instrumentalist tone. This poetics operates on metaphysical dualism as its principle, emphasizing the interactive relationship between spiritual goodness and physical strength. It can be divided into two interconnected theoretical dimensions: spiritual poetics and physical poetics. Based on poetic and musical arts education, spiritual poetics aims to shape a moral and beautiful soul; while based on physical training, physical poetics aims to shape a strong and elegant body. These two interact organically and are integrated to achieve a harmonious state of mind and body through education, cultivating individuals who possess both beauty and goodness, creating guardians who are both literary and martial, finally constructing an ideal city-state where people can find a place to live and thrive.