Plato and Aristotle's Views on Poetry by V.Jesinthal Mary

PPT on Plato and Aristotle's Views on Poetry prepared by Mrs.V.Jesinthal Mary, Dept of English and Foreign Languages(EFL),SRMIST Science and Humanities ,Ramapuram,Chennai-600089

1. Plato and Aristotle’s Views on Poetry Mrs.V.Jesinthal Mary Asst.Professor Dept of English and Foreign Languages(EFL) SRMIST Science and Humanities,Ramapuram Chennai-600089

2. Greek school of criticism Plato   and   Aristotle   are generally regarded as the two greatest figures of Western philosophy. Nearly 20 years Aristotle was Plato’s student and colleague at the  Academy  in Athens, an institution for philosophical, scientific, and mathematical research and teaching founded by Plato in the 380s.   Although Aristotle revered his teacher, his philosophy eventually departed from Plato’s in important respects . Aristotle also investigated areas of philosophy and fields of science that Plato did not seriously consider.

3. Greek School of Criticism Literary Criticism is an analysis, interpretation and evaluation of authors and their works of literature. It includes novels, short stories, essays, plays and poetry. Such critical analysis is often written by literary critics and is found in essays, articles and books. It is undeniable that Greek philosophers put forward significant contributions to the philosophical field. They were the first to criticize, evaluate, and assess Literature. To this day, they continue to influence modern scholars.

4. Greek critics did not make the difference between what is literature and non-literature. Everything was perceived as a text. Two of the most famous western philosophers and critics are P lato and A ristotle, Plato and Aristotle criticized literature from a different perspective.

5. Plato and Aristotle had some similarities in their thought but their theories on Art, Literature, Forms, and Ethics had huge differences . They had opposite views on numerous notions, such as human nature, social hierarchy, and the origin of rhetoric. Plato was considered an idealist whereas Aristotle believed in reality. They are known as the “Fathers of Western Philosophy.”

6. Plato is a very famous G reek Philosopher P lato   was born in 428/427 BCE in   A thens,Greece . He died in 348/347,BC in Athens . H e is the student of  S ocrates P lato is the teacher of  A ristotle H e is best known as the author of philosophical works of unparalleled influence.

7. When it comes to poetry, Plato considers it as an imitation of reality. He explains that art is an imitation of the truth. Furthermore, he thinks that ideas are the most real things in the world because that’s where creation is born. Anything else is just a mere imitation of the creator’s perspective. Poetry becomes an imitation of an imitation, which means that it was three times removed from reality. Plato’s Views on Poetry

8. rals . Plato dislikes Art, He thinks that Art can influence people in a bad way It provokes immoral thoughts and actions . Ideally , all art should be moral, but in reality, all art is immoral,

9. Plato even encourages censorship: every literary work should be checked by the Philosopher ruler. Furthermore, he believed that Poetry shall only be for educational purposes. Although he introduced the first ideas of censorship, Plato never thought that Art should be banned. However, it should be used for beneficial purposes and for making the ideal city through praises to the Gods and promoting good morals .

10. Plato argues that the body senses bring imperfection and stands as an obstacle for the soul and the mind. In addition, Plato believes that the only way for people to become what they are, they should live in this “ideal society”. Plato is an idealist where as Aristotle is a realist . Aristotle rejects this ideal and instead advocates for a state that promotes people’s welfare by providing for the poor. He insists on the middle class taking up the largest part of the community.

11. In conclusion, Plato defends philosophy and thinks of it as something ideal and elite, whereas Aristotle defends Poetry and justifies it on moral grounds. Both agree that Poetry affects our thoughts, emotions, and behaviour . Furthermore, while both consider Art as being an imitation, Plato views it as Mimesis, a mere reproduction ,. W hereas in Aristotle’s perspective, it’s a recreation of inner human action .

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