Arguments of Plato in The Republic and Aristotle in Poetics

What does imitation (mimesis) involve for Plato and Aristotle? Explain its different features. Mimesis, the ‘imitative representation of the real world in art and literature’ , is a form that was particularly evident within the governance of art in Ancient Greece. Although its exact interpretation does vary, it is most commonly used to describe artistic creation as a whole. The value and need for mimesis has been argued by a number of scholars including Sigmund Freud, Philip Sydney and Adam Smith, but this essay will focus on the arguments outlined by Plato in The Republic and Aristotle in Poetics, attempting to demonstrate the different features of imitation (mimesis) and what it involves for them both. In Plato’s The Republic, he†¦show more content†¦Finally, when the artist then creates his painting of the carpenter’s bed, he is not imitating the idea; rather he is imitating the object. This therefore means that the painting (imitation) is at third removed from the ultimate reality of the bed. Moreover, Plato explains that mimesis is â₠¬Ëœa long way removed from truth, and it is able to reproduce everything because it has little grasp of anything†¦ a painter can paint a portrait of a shoemaker or a carpenter or any other craftsman without understanding any of their crafts’. Moreover, according to Plato, many of his contemporaries speak of poets like Homer as though they ‘†¦are masters of all forms of skill, and know all about human excellence and defect and about religion’ . This poses a problem for mimesis because, Plato maintains, the audiences forget that they are being entertained and mistake Homer’s imitation of human behaviour for real knowledge, believing for example, his false portrayal of Zeus. Plato’s third objection to imitation (mimesis) is from a moral point of view in which he believes that the more convincing an imitation is, the more it undermines the psychological stability of even the greatest humans. He argues that the essence of any human is to have higher rational principles as well as lower emotional principles but in order for humans to live a life of reason and righteousness, we must encourage our rational principles over our emotional ones. However, he claims that imitation (mimesis) tends toShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Book The First Ones 1562 Words   |  7 Pagesminds and Plato and Aristotle were the first philosophers to answer these questions. 2. Plato 2.1. His Life To many people, Plato was known as the first writer of philosophy. Plato was born in Athens in 429 BC (Plato-Biography, egs.edu). His birth name was Aristocles and gained the nickname Platon later on. He had two brothers named Adeimantus and Glaucon (Plato-Biography, egs.edu). 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Introduction Mimesis, as a controversial concept starting from the 15th century, is among the oldest terms in literature and artistic theory, and is certainly among the most fundamental. Developing centuries, the concept of mimesis has been explored and reinterpreted by scholars in various academic fields. The word â€Å"Mimesis† developed from the root mimos, noun designating both a person who imitates and a specific genre of performance basedRead MoreHow Do Reason and Imagination Shape Poetry?1979 Words   |  8 PagesImagination, the result is generally seen as more damaging to the art form. Shelley goes on to relate that â€Å"It is admitted that the exercise of the imagination is most delightful, but it is alledged that that of reason is more useful†, and therefore the argument is made that Reason is a more useful inspiration for poetry since it revolves around real world notions, while the Imagination is useless fantasy. 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