Theory and Criticism: Aristotle :on Imitation in Poetry: Comparison with Plato’s view

Examining Aristotle and Plato's Perspectives: Imitation in Poetry and Its Philosophical Implications

Introduction

Aristotle and Plato, two influential ancient Greek philosophers, had contrasting views on the concept of imitation in poetry. While both philosophers addressed this topic, their perspectives differed significantly. Let's compare Aristotle's and Plato's views on imitation in poetry:

Plato (428?-347 bc): Argument from "The Republic" By Plato

Plato (428?-347 bc)

 Plato held a more skeptical view of imitation in poetry. He argued that art, including poetry, was a mere imitation of the physical world, which he deemed illusory and far removed from ultimate reality. Plato believed that poets created works based on appearances, rather than the true forms or ideas that existed in a higher realm. Thus, he considered poetry to be a distorted representation of reality.

Plato expressed concerns about the moral and ethical implications of poetry. He believed that poetry appealed to the irrational and emotional aspects of human nature, potentially leading to a misguidance of the soul. Plato was particularly critical of tragic poetry, which he felt encouraged the indulgence of base emotions and undermined the pursuit of reason and virtue.

Aristotle (384-322 bc): Argument from "The Poetics" By Aristotle

In contrast, Aristotle believed that poetry and artistic creation involved imitation, which he considered to be a natural and fundamental human instinct. He argued that imitation was not mere replication or copying but a creative process that involved transforming reality into a more idealized and refined form. Aristotle saw poetry as a way to represent universal truths and capture the essence of human experience.

Aristotle (384-322 bc)

For Aristotle, poetry had a distinct purpose: to provide catharsis, or emotional purification, for both the artist and the audience. He believed that through the imitation of human actions and emotions, poetry had the power to evoke pity and fear, leading to a release and cleansing of these emotions. Aristotle valued poetry for its ability to engage and emotionally impact the audience while also offering insights into the human condition.

Comparison:

While both Aristotle and Plato acknowledged the concept of imitation in poetry, their perspectives diverged on its value and purpose. Aristotle saw imitation as a creative and cathartic process that provided insights into the human experience, whereas Plato viewed it as a deceptive replication of an imperfect physical world.

Aristotle emphasized the emotional and intellectual impact of poetry, valuing its ability to engage and enlighten the audience. In contrast, Plato had reservations about poetry's moral influence, fearing that it could lead individuals astray from reason and virtue.

Aristotle by his theory of imitation answers the charge of Plato that poetry is an imitation of “shadow of shadows”, thrice removed from truth and that the poet beguiles us with lies. Plato condemned poetry on the ground that in the very nature of things poets can have no idea of truth. The phenomenal world is not the reality, but a copy of the reality in the mind of the Supreme. The poet imitates this copy, the object and phenomena of the world, which are shadowy and unreal. Hence, Plato concluded that poetry is thrice removed from reality, it being a mere, ‘shadow or shadow of shadows.’ The poets have no knowledge of truth, they are liars, and deceive us with the lies which they tell in their poetry. Poetry, therefore, is “the mother of lies.”

Aristotle, on the contrary, tells us that art imitates not the mere show of things, but the ‘ideal reality,’ embodied in every object of the world. The process of nature is a ‘creative process’; everywhere in, ‘nature there is a ceaseless and upward progress’, everything in nature is constantly growing and moving up, and the poet imitates this upward movement of nature. Art reproduces the original not as it is, but it appears to the senses, i.e., it is reproduced imaginatively. Art moves in a world of images, and reproduces the external, according to the idea or image in his mind. Thus the poet does not copy the external world, but creates according to his ‘idea’ of it. Thus even an ugly object well-imitated becomes a source of pleasure. We are told in the Poetics, “objects which in themselves we view with pain, we delight to contemplate when reproduced with minute fidelity: such as the forms of the most ignoble animals and dead bodies.” This is so because of the imaginative coloring of reality in the process of poetic imitation.

Despite their differences, both philosophers' views on imitation in poetry have shaped the discourse on aesthetics and literary theory, leaving a lasting impact on how we understand and interpret artistic creation.

Ardhendu De  

References

The Republic of Plato : Plato : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive. (n.d.). Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/republicofplato1929plat

Aristotles Poetics : House, Humphry : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive. (n.d.). Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/aristotlespoetic032945mbp

Theory and criticism: Aristotle : His Major Works
Theory and criticism: Aristotle: on imitation in poetry: Comparison with Plato’s view
Theory and criticism: Aristotle: on imitation in poetry
Theory and criticism: Aristotle: Characteristics of an Aristotelian Plot