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

Mrs.V.Jesinthal Mary
Asst.Professor
Dept of English and Foreign
Languages(EFL)
SRMIST Science and
Humanities,Ramapuram
Chennai-600089

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.

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

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 Plato and Aristotle,
Plato and Aristotle criticized literature from a different
perspective.

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.”

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

 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 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,

 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.

 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.

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,.
Whereas in Aristotle’s perspective, it’s a
recreation of inner human action.

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

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