My Little Republic: Plato is Magic

[Starswirl the Trixie 975]

After months of work, I am finished with my first production for the Brony community: A 28 page essay comparing My Little Pony to Plato's Republic. It was not written for a class, but instead for Bronies, so it should be readable by most everyone. This will probably also be the longest Brony production I ever make; I may make more comparisons in the future, but they'll all be much shorter.

 

Why did I write this? Because I had the inspiration of course, the same reason why musicians make pony music. Even if this paper isn't very successful, I'll still be happy in knowing that I have some fans (I hope) and that I learned quite a lot about ponies, Plato, and writing while working on this.

 

I'll plan on sending it to EqD for consideration sometime today or tomorrow (if you feel so inclined you could send it there on your own). For now, the good people of MLP Forums can have exclusive access to it.

 

UPDATE: I condensed it for the website Overthinking It, which posted it.

 

EQD Posted: http://www.equestria...l#idc-container

 

Lauren Faust Comments - Just Coincidence, she says: https://twitter.com/...005635063857152

 

I have stated it time and time again, but still think I should say it once more: My deepest thanks to the people of Mlpforums.com for encouraging me on this. This thread is testament to that.

Edited November 10, 2012 by Starswirl the Trixied

[Dimitri Hammer 3,645]

Oh man, that was really awesome. I loved reading Republic when I was in college. I can't believe I'm realizing this now but what you said in 28 pages makes sense. It makes it seem strangly controlling though, but that's not what it's about. You deserve a ribbon of excellence. I applaud you comrade.

 

 

Good thing Dimitri comes from Sovestria! Well it's a horrible dictatorship now but whatever. It was good while it lasted.

[Fir3Chi3f 20]

Oh my goodness! I've thoroughly enjoyed this!

 

Through the first few pages I kept thinking, "Oh this kinda sounds like Karl" and then BAM. "...bourgeoisie by Karl Marx"

 

I've almost finished the philosophy major here at EIU and we are about to read the Republic in one of my last courses. (I have read it before, but it's been a while and wasn't too enthusiastic the first time ) I'll likely have more to say after we read it with our professor, but thus far I love the comparisons and everything seems correct from what I can remember about the book and the show.

 

Fun stuff my friend! Keep up the good work!

 

If I may ask, are you a philosophy major?

[Starswirl the Trixie 975]

Oh my goodness! I've thoroughly enjoyed this!

 

Through the first few pages I kept thinking, "Oh this kinda sounds like Karl" and then BAM. "...bourgeoisie by Karl Marx"

 

I've almost finished the philosophy major here at EIU and we are about to read the Republic in one of my last courses. (I have read it before, but it's been a while and wasn't too enthusiastic the first time ) I'll likely have more to say after we read it with our professor, but thus far I love the comparisons and everything seems correct from what I can remember about the book and the show.

 

Fun stuff my friend! Keep up the good work!

 

If I may ask, are you a philosophy major?

 

So sorry for the delay. I forgot about this thread. Believe it or not, I'm actually studying political science, but with an emphasis on theory and political philosophy.

 

I looked at this thread again because of a bigger issue, which is addressed to anyone: It's been almost a month and few outside of MLPForums have read my paper. I have sent three emails to EqD (and I convinced a friend to send one), submitting it for their consideration. I have yet to receive a response. I included a line asking them to notify me if they had read my paper but were rejecting it for whatever reason. I know EqD is notorious for often not reading emails, and a friend told me that it took a few emails to the website to get them to look at his material and post it, but I'm still worried. I've also contacted Derpy Hooves News and LyraHeartstrings.com (both run by the same person, I believe) and submitted my paper to them, and I have not heard back from either after a week.

 

This entire project has been plagued by waiting for emails. I've normally been patient, but now I'm getting worried. Season Three is coming in November, and I fear that the new canon content could be confounding and could coerce me to concede (I'm sorry, I just noticed an alliteration developing and had to go with it).

 

With Brony Farm down for Celestia knows how long, I'm pretty much out of fan content sites. So, a bit of advice is requested. Is EqD just not reading my mail, meaning I should just keep sending? It could be a problem with my email or something, so it would be a great help for people to, if they see fit, shoot EqD an email with a link to the article.

 

Anypony have advice/want to help? I'm really frustrated by all these delays.

 

Thanks for all the support.

 

EDIT:

 

Hey again guys!

 

Thanks to all the support I've received. MLPForums gave me confidence in the article and supplied my with an artist (Rainbow Dashey).

 

Time for my celebration post: EqD posted it. The link can be found in the OP.

 

In addition, 20 minutes ago someone sent me the link to a tweet by Lauren Faust (@Fyre-Flye), commenting on the article.

 

So yeah, this is a very good day for me, and it's just in time for Season Three!

 

Thanks everypony!

Edited October 16, 2012 by Starswirl the Trixied

[Fir3Chi3f 20]

So sorry for the delay. I forgot about this thread. Believe it or not, I'm actually studying political science, but with an emphasis on theory and political philosophy.

 

I looked at this thread again because of a bigger issue, which is addressed to anyone: It's been almost a month and few outside of MLPForums have read my paper. I have sent three emails to EqD (and I convinced a friend to send one), submitting it for their consideration. I have yet to receive a response. I included a line asking them to notify me if they had read my paper but were rejecting it for whatever reason. I know EqD is notorious for often not reading emails, and a friend told me that it took a few emails to the website to get them to look at his material and post it, but I'm still worried. I've also contacted Derpy Hooves News and LyraHeartstrings.com (both run by the same person, I believe) and submitted my paper to them, and I have not heard back from either after a week.

 

This entire project has been plagued by waiting for emails. I've normally been patient, but now I'm getting worried. Season Three is coming in November, and I fear that the new canon content could be confounding and could coerce me to concede (I'm sorry, I just noticed an alliteration developing and had to go with it).

 

With Brony Farm down for Celestia knows how long, I'm pretty much out of fan content sites. So, a bit of advice is requested. Is EqD just not reading my mail, meaning I should just keep sending? It could be a problem with my email or something, so it would be a great help for people to, if they see fit, shoot EqD an email with a link to the article.

 

Anypony have advice/want to help? I'm really frustrated by all these delays.

 

Thanks for all the support.

 

EDIT:

 

Hey again guys!

 

Thanks to all the support I've received. MLPForums gave me confidence in the article and supplied my with an artist (Rainbow Dashey).

 

Time for my celebration post: EqD posted it. The link can be found in the OP.

 

In addition, 20 minutes ago someone sent me the link to a tweet by Lauren Faust (@Fyre-Flye), commenting on the article.

 

So yeah, this is a very good day for me, and it's just in time for Season Three!

 

Thanks everypony!

 

Sorry I've been away as well! That's all wonderful to hear! 

 

I like what Octavia had to say, first posting, "....I'll have to read it." and ending with, "That actually made a lot more sense, and made a lot more strong points than I honestly thought it would...." 

 

As a side note, we weren't able to go over all of the Republic in my course. It's still one of my favorite works tho, so expect me back here or commenting on EqD sometime after finals

[Two-of-Hearts 168]

Oh boy... I havn't read it yet but I will set aside some time specifically for it. I'm just posting this to say this sounds REALLY AWESOME. I got my bachelors in history back in 2009 and I remember reading Plato (though I like Aristotle better LOL).

[Batbrony 16,054]

After months of work, I am finished with my first production for the Brony community: A 28 page essay comparing My Little Pony to Plato's Republic. It was not written for a class, but instead for Bronies, so it should be readable by most everyone. This will probably also be the longest Brony production I ever make; I may make more comparisons in the future, but they'll all be much shorter.

 

Why did I write this? Because I had the inspiration of course, the same reason why musicians make pony music. Even if this paper isn't very successful, I'll still be happy in knowing that I have some fans (I hope) and that I learned quite a lot about ponies, Plato, and writing while working on this.

 

I'll plan on sending it to EqD for consideration sometime today or tomorrow (if you feel so inclined you could send it there on your own). For now, the good people of MLP Forums can have exclusive access to it.

 

UPDATE: I condensed it for the website Overthinking It, which posted it.

 

EQD Posted: http://www.equestria...l#idc-container

 

Lauren Faust Comments - Just Coincidence, she says: https://twitter.com/...005635063857152

 

I have stated it time and time again, but still think I should say it once more: My deepest thanks to the people of Mlpforums.com for encouraging me on this. This thread is testament to that.

 

 

That... I just... WOW!!!  That was amazing!!!  Thank you so much for writing that, it was an incredible read!  Just read "The Republic" myself this semester in my "Intro to Philosophy" class, and let me tell ya, I loved it!  Actually, one reason I enjoyed reading your article so much was because you actually validated a number of beliefs that I myself put together in a thread that I created in October, shortly before the season premiere, concerning MLP and the value of history in the show, in which I too discussed a number of Platonic elements in the show, and also focused a lot on "Hearth's Warming Eve".  Let me tell ya, it was so cool to see that somepony else shared my belief that there are tons of Platonic elements and themes in MLP, and even cooler to see an article that expanded upon it far more than my own thread did.  I'd love it if you'd take a look at my thread and tell me what you think about what I had to say; some of it is the same as what you said, other points in some ways expand upon the arguments you put forth in your article.  Again, thank you, thank you so much for writing this; it was an incredible read, and extremely well written.  Congratulations on getting posted on EQD, as well as for the Faust comment; that's epic man, that's epic!!!!!!!!!

 

Below is the link to my thread; if you reply about it Starswirl, you can reply in the thread itself if you'd like:

 

http://mlpforums.com/topic/34528-mlp-fim-and-the-value-of-history-further-proof-of-the-genius-of-mlp/#entry810561

 

Oh, and have an epic brohoof!!! 

 

[Akihiro 90]

Very interesting.

I have very little knowledge in Philosophy and such, but I loved it anyway

 

I didn't study Ancient Greece in high school, but the Roman Empire instead , so we never brought up Plato or anything about democracy...

[Two-of-Hearts 168]

It was an interesting read. You cite your evidence well. Awesome that you were so taken with Plato to write this. I doubt that the writing staff seriously considered Plato's Republic when they were hashing out Equestria, but yeah Equestria does seem pretty spot on to it.