What Greek Philosopher Believed That Theatre Was Dangerous?

Greek Theatre|Theater

The ancient Greek philosopher Plato was of the opinion that theatre was a dangerous activity. He believed that theatre was capable of inspiring and provoking strong emotions in people and that this could lead to them losing control over their own behaviour. Plato feared that theatre could become an agent of chaos, rather than order, in society.

Plato’s views on theatre were based on the belief that it could cause people to act out of passion rather than reason, leading to an increase in immoral behaviour. He argued that it was not only a form of entertainment but also a tool for indoctrinating people with certain values and beliefs. Plato also felt that theatre influenced our understanding of reality and had a powerful effect on our sense of morality and justice.

Plato argued that by attending theatrical performances, people would become more easily swayed by emotions than reason. He felt that this could lead to an erosion in moral values as well as increased anarchy within society. He feared that if people were exposed to too much spectacle and drama, their attachment to reality would be weakened and they would be more likely to commit immoral acts without considering the consequences.

The philosopher also claimed that theatre promoted dishonesty as he believed it encouraged actors to pretend to be something they weren’t in order to gain approval from the audience. He argued this created a false impression about what is real and acceptable behaviour. Further, he warned against the potential for actors to exaggerate certain aspects of their performance or characters which could lead viewers into believing untruths or immorality was acceptable within society.

Plato’s views on theatre were largely negative but his criticisms still ring true today as there is still potential for any form of entertainment or media to have a powerful influence on how we think and behave. Nevertheless, modern audiences are generally more educated about these potential dangers so we can still appreciate the beauty of theatrical performances without feeling threatened by them.

In conclusion, Greek philosopher Plato believed that theatre was dangerous due its potential for inciting strong emotions which could lead people astray from morality and justice as well as its ability to manipulate public opinion through exaggeration or untruths.