Abstract
This chapter explores the intellectual and historical milieu of Plato's discussion of fear in the Republic and the Laws. Plato associates fear with poetry and public performances in honour of Dionysus in the Republic, warning it undermines the guardians’ ability to protect the Kallipolis. In the Laws, Dionysus, the god who incites fear and manic inspiration (791a-b), oversees Magnesia's education programme; here, wine and Bacchic revelry are employed as a kind of fear pharmakon that fosters civic sōphrosynē. Thus, in the Laws, Plato applies the cognitive transformation of the manic, drunklike philosopher, detailed in the Symposium and the Phaedrus, across Magnesia's citizenry. Furthermore, through the metaphor of the puppets (644d7ff.), Plato stages his own performance, leading the citizens through fear and pity to sōphrosynē and justice, in response to his criticism of Homer (Republic 599d-e; Laws 858e) that his poetry did not improve the legislation of any city.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Fearmongering in Greek and Roman literature and beyond |
| Editors | Priscilla Gontijo Leite, Ian Worthington |
| Place of Publication | London ; New York |
| Publisher | Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group |
| Chapter | 20 |
| Pages | 278-300 |
| Number of pages | 23 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781003424833, 9781040402221 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781032544335, 9781032544359 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2026 |