Education imagery in Plato

Abstract

This research has as a starting point and central issue the following question: how is it possible to educate through images? Taking Plato as a reference, research is organized in three moments. The first aims to situate the imagery on platonic education course taking as a support, especially, The Republic; the initial stage of this course, the eikasia, is the sensible apprehension of the images. The second moment is devoted to the examination of the ontological status of images in three modes or approaches: of imitation, of knowledge and moralization. The images, being sensitive representations of objects intelligible, are closer to the truth and goodness when more symmetrical in relation to the model. Finally, it is to understand the educational sense of the imagery within the Platonic thought, examining the hypothesis that the images moralize the soul because they are the appropriate instruments communication of true opinion and practical virtues (popular), guiding, so, the conduct of citizens for the good life in the polis, and playing an important role in the political-pedagogical project of Plato. (AU)