Plato’s aesthetic paideia

Abstract

The author examines the role of the phenomenon of art and beauty in Plato?s theory of education. In the introductory part, the main thesis of the work is explained bearing in mind possible difficulties that such a thesis implies. In the second chapter, the author examines the role of art in the educational process with a focus on Plato?s so-called epistemological argument. Then, in the next chapter, the artistic expression of Plato itself is analyzed, which further reinforces the argumentation in favor of the thesis about Plato?s positive appropriation of art for educational purposes. Finally, in the last chapter, the author gives an interpretation of Plato?s idea of beauty and focuses a certain parallelism between wonderment as the beginning of philosophy and the experience of beauty.