Did Plato Really Hate All Poetry?
We’re told Plato banished poets from his Republic—a philosopher’s war on poetry. But did the father of Western philosophy actually despise verse?
David — "The Death of Socrates" (1787), public domain
‘Plato Hated Poetry’—Or Did He?
Plato’s Republic reads like a ban on poetry. He famously suggests that poets should be expelled from his ideal city for “telling dangerous tales.” For centuries, readers have pictured him as the ultimate killjoy, locking out Homer and Sappho alike.
The Philosopher Poets Plato Actually Loved
Plato’s dialogues brim with myth, metaphor, and poetic rhythm. He critiques poets who, in his view, mislead or stir destructive emotions. But he also imagines a reformed poetry—one that reveals philosophical truth. He even calls for new poets to shape the soul of the city. Plato didn’t hate verse—he wanted it remade.
Why the ‘Poet Ban’ Stuck
The myth likely persists because Plato’s criticisms are dramatic and blunt. Later critics, from Roman moralists to Victorian schoolmasters, used his words to justify their own suspicions about the power of art. But if you look at the Symposium or the Phaedrus, you find a philosopher helplessly enchanted with poetry’s spell.
Plato’s dialogues are packed with poetic allusions. He criticized certain kinds of poetry for corrupting morals, but he also championed the philosopher-poet and called for new, better poetry to shape his ideal city.
