It is Plato's conception that lies should be told, and that vital information should be withheld, if one hopes to achieve prosperity and order within a given city. Although Plato's notion of censorship might merit labels such as exaggerated, unethical, or cruel, the basic underlying principle is somewhat similar to the socially accepted form of censorship practiced in modern Western culture. In order to fully grasp this theory it is imperative that we identify the different means through which Plato attempts to achieve optimal censorship, and thus a regulated society. The two instances in which a desire to repress reactions from the population through censorship are most evident are the discussions concerning the noble lie, and the stories to be told to young guardians.
Plato conceives of censorship as a tremendous tool to be utilized in molding the moral and intellectual principles of the population. Moreover, Plato emphasizes the need for the employment of censorship towards the guardians throughout their youth because "it's a that time that it (an individual) is most malleable, and takes on any form that one wishes to impress upon it". (377, b)Plato then goes on to explain, justifiably, that the most simple method to relate information to young children is through story telling.
It is a common consensus amongst modern educators and Plato alike, that the stories of Homer and Hesiod are by no means suitable moral models for children to follow. However, in this time period, these works represent the closest equivalent to religious scripture because they portray the actions of the God's. It is Plato's belief that education will only have its desired effect when it is purged of the violence and hatre ...