NORTHERN PLANNER

As a former philosophy (with politics) student this Telegraph article about Plato caught my attention.

It argues that what’s missing in modern life is Platonism – the idea of an absolute, perfect truth to everything – even science, morality and art. You may disagree (personally I like the thought of all things being relative to the person – a ‘stein’ thing , something grounded in Einstein’s world, as well as Wittgenstein) but there’s something to be said for craft, the sense of ‘getting something right’, working towards perfection- even if it doesn’t exist. He’s talking about education, but doesn’t this ring true for the planners role in the creative process? :

"Say you are painting a picture. The picture exists in the perfect realm….Yor job is to depict it as best as you can…orginality doesn’t come into it, the picture existed before you did". The planners help the team uncover what the perfect picture should be, the creatives depict it.

Plato can also shed some light on the  ‘who has the right to have an idea’ chestnut. The only just Platonic society is one where people do whatever they are best suited for – and they’re equally valued for it. Do what you’re good at, avoid what what your not in other words.