Now, Plato is 'woke'

What exactly do some people think constitutes ‘Western Civilisation?’ Oft cited as a key ingredient of this slippery beast is the birth of democracy (sic) in Greece, and perhaps more profoundly Greece’s then  enquiring, philosophising culture—I cite Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and a host of others whose thoughts are still pored over in university philosophy departments the world over (and let’s not forget their contribution to the development of Christianity). But no. Think again. In keeping with the deep thinking of the Great GENIUS of the Western Hemisphere, Texas A&M University has told a philosophy lecturer not to teach students about Plato’s Symposium (reports Philosophy Now). This apparently is because the Symposium amongst other things deals with questioning the nature of love. In Trump’s part of America loose talk about love, in the context of ’woke’ is a no-no. I wonder if Trump ever watched Derek Jarman’s film  Sebastiane (1976) which explored its Greek style themes rather explicitly (I saw the film when it was shown at the Humberside Theatre in Hull, where I worked behind the bar. I found it hilarious, but then I was already  the better for several bottles of Sam Smith’s Nut Brown Ale. A similar experience was had with a showing of Brown Ale With Gertie, 1974).* What does such an edict from a university to a philosophy lecturer tell us about the New No-Culture? Philosophy is about questioning, about seeking to understand who we are. I can only assume that following a deep reading of the philosophy of the last 3,000 years the new Curators of the Western Inheritance have come to a cast iron conclusion, which is no doubt based on Trump’s close reading of Plato. The version with pictograms.
 
The same issue of Philosophy Now reports that its last issue was banned in United Arab Emirates, not because of its contents (all about the nature of happiness) but because the mag’s cover artwork included a portrayal of a rainbow with only six colours, not the normal seven. Clearly this would pervert the susceptible citizens of UAE. Except they wouldn’t be susceptible if they were readers of Philosophy Now in UAE. A risky indulgence I imagine. Ultimately it is the job of philosophy to subvert.

*Jarman should have lived long enough to make a version of Melania, methinks.