Plato's Ion -- Brief Introduction

If God wanted to inspire people, why'd He choose the poets? Precisely because no one would expect most of them to say anything worthwhile otherwise.
For two excellent and very different introductions to the Ion, see Allan Bloom's introductory essay (in Pangle, The Forgotten Roots of Political Philosophy, 1987) and Christopher Bruell's chapter on the Ion (in On the Socratic Education, 1999). For an extra treat, see the English poet Thomas Gray's delightful synopsis of the Ion in Burges' Works of Plato, volume 6 (1862).

[@normhansen444]

The very end of ion to me is absolutely hilarious.

[@alexgenadinikmusicandpoetr1012]

Thank you for pointing me to this. In the description, you have a fascinating quote "If God wanted to inspire people, why'd He choose the poets? Precisely because no one would expect most of them to say anything worthwhile otherwise." But from the dialog, perhaps I missed - how did they define beauty? Or did they not directly attempt to define it?

[@platosworld]

You're right, beauty is not the thematic focus of the dialogue. But it does enter in important ways. It is the beauty of the poet's words that vouchsafes our trust in their truth, even their divinity, and in turn prompts our pity or fear. The beautiful stands in, as it were, for that unintelligible core of poetry that makes room for our hopes. Beauty inspires, as you put it. But inspires what? That's what Socrates tests in the Ion.

[@alexgenadinikmusicandpoetr1012]

@@platosworld It sounds more in Socratic style to leave it open-ended like "Beauty is that which inspires." More abstract. I could clarify it by "Beauty is that which inspires people." But it sounds less poetic and less Socratic :) You may be tempted to bring things up like everyone is inspired differently. But there are standard answers to that, and more importantly, it would be less poetically and philosophically satisfying. :) I like to take it in and sit with my original definition and try to see how it makes sense. :)

[@platosworld]

@@alexgenadinikmusicandpoetr1012 Makes sense. You could also, upon reflection, ask, "What is inspiration?" Again, a topic the Ion explores.

[@annekerkemeijer7000]

thank you!

[@platosworld]

You're welcome!

[@jayabharathipushparani2955]

Tnqew sir

[@yuktabaruah3361]

When was Plato's Ion published?

[@platosworld]

No doubt before 347 BC, when Plato died. It's impossible to precisely date Platonic dialogues, even when they include references to external events, because Plato treats his material so poetically. In that respect, one needs to reflect on how Socrates' questioning of Ion--the interpreter of a poet--should be applied to Plato, and to us, his readers.

[@yuktabaruah3361]

@@platosworld thanks a lot sir for the information

[@platosworld]

@@yuktabaruah3361 You're welcome!

[@MTXMTX-oj6yn]

yet...so many people keep on failling their life. . . .! THANKS

[@platosworld]

Yet we keep on trying. That is the tragic vision. You're welcome!

[@sanaakhalifi5778]

👍👍👍👍

[@Chickrandom88]

Bless you lol

[@platosworld]

Thank you, blessed one