Does the good soul hate criticism?
Or does the tyrant hate criticism?
We speak, of course, of literature and art—but politics and art, as Plato, knew, are one.
The tyrant is the “nice guy” who opposes criticism.
The good soul always welcomes criticism.
This is counter-intuitive. An explanation is necessary.
Let’s begin with your typical poet who loves poetry—by its very nature, inclusive and soulful—and dislikes criticism, finding it either either mean, parasitic, or pointless—why tell us what the poet has already told us?
Criticism can be all these things.
But poetry can be all these things, too.
A bad example of a thing should never be our definition of a thing.
One who opposes criticism is like someone who thinks an author has written a book only for him.
If he likes a book, none are allowed to dislike that book.
And if he dislikes a book (the author apparently having a personal dislike for him) none are allowed to like it.
To acknowledge that a book may have been written for someone else is to acknowledge the existence of criticism.
Especially if we seek to understand others.
The tyrant opposes criticism—initially with kindness, for the successful tyrant never starts out as one.
The would-be tyrant opposes criticism of all kinds, defending anti-social behavior, for two excellent reasons: on the grounds that it is due to an earlier wrong, to oppression; and more importantly, to generally appear kind and beneficent: “Oh let them do that! It isn’t harming anyone!” “Let those who are starving steal! Let’s not criticize theft!”
And here’s the important thing to notice: the successful tyrant defends behavior which then becomes that tyrant’s army.
The tyrant continues to oppose criticism (free speech) when the tyrant comes to power.
The critic is not the tyrant.
The one who opposes criticism, the one who wants there to be only “poetry” and no criticism, is the tyrant.
This is true at both levels, the aesthetic and the political.
We must remember the two-stage process of tyranny’s rise.
First, excusing bad behavior as a localized impulse of short-term good—which then leads to the gradual transformation of excusing bad behavior by a far-reaching force of influence.
The end result is an army of thugs who oppose criticism—and an army of bad poets who oppose criticism.
Criticism, no matter how painful it is, should never be opposed.
The flourishing of Criticism leads to a free society and a flourishing of Poetry.
Who wants to help poetry and society right now?
Read and write Criticism.
Begin with Plato.