Dear Plato: Were you out of your mind?

          The members of Group #1 presented their portrayal and personal understanding of Classical Literary Criticism successfully as they manifested the epitome of both a glimpse of Plato's Utopian society and Aristotle's understanding and response to it. The example of the birthing process was perfectly used to conduct such an example, as the majority of the class "ooh-ed" and "aww-ed" at the video of the character Rachael from the show, "Friends" as she gave birth. The entire scene was comedically presented as subtle jokes and gestures were made between Rachael and Ross. More importantly, the baby was born without the umbilical cord present as well as the "blood and guts." This "warm" and "funny" approach to pregnancy is exactly what Plato refers to as an "imitation" and "mimesis," something that the weak majority prefers over the truth of reality.

          The second video clip of an actual documentation of a woman's pregnancy was the portrayal of what Plato prefers in his Utopian society. However, in my memory, every single person in the classroom that night either cringed or looked away and snorted a quick nervous laugh in the midst of their discomfort. This response reflects a different outlook on Plato's ideal philosopher kings as a more inhumane selected group of rulers. How can an average man prefer to learn about pregnancy in such a manner without the slightest dose of discomfort? The more surprising fact is that even a video documentation is referred to as an "imitation" of reality in Plato's society. I may be the first or one of the many to ask this, but was Plato out of his mind?