Introduction
In a bid to bring change to the current regime it is imperative that some of the cultures that were adopted in the previous administration be suppressed to ensure that the republic is stable and commands a loyal citizenry. In the previous regime, challenges that were observed include resistance from people on issues that were relevant and necessary for the development of the republic. The new republic will censor the freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and the freedom of expression as these posed the biggest challenge to the previous regime. The censorship will assist to protect the citizens against any harm and will further ensure that developmental issues are implemented without opposition. This paper will elaborate how Socrates concept of censorship will be applied in the ‘new Republic and how it may increase justice in society.
The regime will borrow its strategy from Socrates’ second and third books of the Republic. These books give an account of how the scholar advocated for the suppression of stories before they were told to its guardians and citizens. During his time the academician identified three stories that he was not comfortable with in the manner they were told hence wished the stories would be censored. They include stories about Hades in the underworld, Socrates’ interest on the guidance of youth, and those relating to gods and heroes. Therefore, these teachings will act as a guideline hence will be used in the implementation of the censorship of the identified policies. Moreover, they will be used as a pillar to ensure that the citizens are given justice in all other aspects of their lives.
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The Censorship Process
The biggest challenge emanates from the freedom of speech clause which gives people the right to speak openly and criticize government moves just because the constitution empowers them. Most civilians are instigated by the opposition that has aims of frustrating government moves to gain popularity. It is, therefore, necessary that the freedom of speech be censored to prevent these politicians from telling construed stories to the people who are most gullible and would believe anything they are told. It would be best if the people were told only the information that is beneficial to them without confusing them with stories that impart negativity hence making them lose confidence with the leadership.
Likewise, Socrates argued that storytellers and poets were to be suppressed since they told stories to the youth who, according to the writer, is not critical in analyzing the stories thus influenced easily. The academician insisted that young people should only be told tales that will profit the community in totality. Therefore it was essential to the scholar that the youth be subjected to narratives that would uphold morality as well as encourage justice to all (Farbman, 2018). For Socrates, it did not matter if the stories were a fabrication of lies but as much as they contained aspects of truth in them, it was fine by him. His primary goal was for the tales to assist the youth to live a fair but reasonable life.
Another policy that was equally damaging was the freedom of assembly which allows a citizen to protest and demand their rights. Protests make it hard for any conscious development regime to undertake any meaningful projects. Furthermore, this right is next to impunity since the government represents the people and anyone who cripples its activities is a person who is against the people wishes hence a self-proclaimed enemy of the state. Since the government is made up of human beings who are liable to err at a point in their life or another, whatever they do in their private lives should be as such, private life. Thus the freedom to assembly should be censored as it gives the people the powers to converge at a place plot and consequently demonstrate against government bills that are not in favor of the opposition parties.
Another story that Socrates believed should be censored is the one in which the gods use treachery to present themselves before humankind. The Greeks have it that the gods changed their forms to entice mortal women. The academician disagrees with this concept since he believes that the gods are the prettiest things and would not assume a form worse than the one they possess for whatever reason (Farbman, 2018). Such stories, Socrates insists should not be said to the people merely because they are not true. Furthermore, the stories would portray the gods as not honest a picture that should not be painted in Socrates’ city.
Another policy that should be subdued is the Freedom of expression which journalists at some point misuse by airing or publishing news that has a damaging effect on government leaders. This kind of reports has significant consequences to the masses and is better left untold since people can easily use the news as a basis to perpetrate crime or cause unrest. Information given to the public should be filtered to protect the image of the republic and further maintain law and order at all times (Abbasi, & Al-Sharqi, 2015). Censoring the bill would ensure that there are peace and harmony a necessary requirement for a society that abhors corruption, hatred, and violence.
The scholar had reservations regarding the stories relating to gods and heroes of the Greek society. They constantly are at war fighting and plotting against each other acts which are intolerable in the community. Furthermore, there is a myth that describe heinous crime perpetrated by both gods and heroes and which according to Socrates should be suppressed. The scholar believed that if the stories are retold as they are, a criminal can use the stories as a line of defense. The academician takes this stand since he is plotting to establish a city where it would be disgraceful to incite people to dislike one another.
Benefits of the Censorship
When the laws are censored, it prevents people from using the media to spread information that could be damaging to the republic. Such information that when released will cause unrest, and consequently weaken the republic. Apart from the reasons stipulated, information can be censored for a variety of reasons including moral suppression that aims at suppressing obscene and military suppression that seeks to protect military intelligence and tactics. The censorship can also be used for political suppression to prevent rebels, religious suppression or corporate suppression. During the period that America had undertaken to participate in the First World War Congress passed legislation meant to minimize anti-government speech. These laws were the Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918 .
Conclusion
With the placement of censorship on the freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and the freedom of expression, the regime was positioning itself so that it could influence its people will lead them to achieve desired interest. The censorship will assist to protect the citizens against any harm and will further ensure that developmental issues are implemented without opposition. Furthermore, the strategies adapted from Socrates’ second and third books of the Republic were used to give an account of how the scholar advocated for the suppression of stories before they were told to guardians and citizens. Therefore, these teachings will act as a guideline hence will be used in the implementation of the censorship of the identified policies. Moreover, they will be used as a pillar to ensure that the citizens are given justice in all other aspects of their lives.
References
Abbasi, I. S., & Al-Sharqi, L. (2015). Media censorship: Freedom versus responsibility. Journal of Law and Conflict Resolution , 7 (4), 21-24.
Farbman, H. (2018). Dangers of Literature: On the Use of Socrates in Recent Apologies for the Humanities. minnesota review , 2018 (91), 56-67.
