Aristotle On art and poetry Aristotle From Makedonia

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Aristotle On art and poetry

Aristotle On art and poetry

Aristotle • • From Makedonia (384 -322) Studied in Plato’s Academy Founded his own

Aristotle • • From Makedonia (384 -322) Studied in Plato’s Academy Founded his own school, Lykeion Wrote: – Socratic dialogues (lost) – Lectures (preserved)

Thought and Experience • Rejects Plato’s Theory of Ideas • Knowledge based on experience

Thought and Experience • Rejects Plato’s Theory of Ideas • Knowledge based on experience of particular, concrete things • Concepts created from them

Essentialism • The essence or nature of things exists in the things themselves (not

Essentialism • The essence or nature of things exists in the things themselves (not outside them as in Plato’s Theory of Ideas) • Subsist in things as form • Understood by the mind as concept

Creative power of thought • The mind creates a universal concept • From the

Creative power of thought • The mind creates a universal concept • From the experience of particular things

Poetry and knowledge • The literary work makes knowledge of human life possible •

Poetry and knowledge • The literary work makes knowledge of human life possible • Raises the particular up to the level of the universal • The story makes life understandable

Division of the Sciences • Theoretical sciences (knowledge for its own sake) – Physics,

Division of the Sciences • Theoretical sciences (knowledge for its own sake) – Physics, mathematics, metaphysics • Practical sciences (aims at action) – Ethics, politics, economics • Productive science (aims at production) – Crafts, art and poetry

Discusses art • Nichomacchian Ethics – Art as knowledge • Poetics – Reply to

Discusses art • Nichomacchian Ethics – Art as knowledge • Poetics – Reply to Plato’s attack on poetry

Poetics • Poetry is an art that is subject to certain laws • These

Poetics • Poetry is an art that is subject to certain laws • These laws are general and understandable • The art of poetry can be analysed and understood

General division of the Poetics 1. Nature and kinds of poetry (Parts/chapters 1 -3)

General division of the Poetics 1. Nature and kinds of poetry (Parts/chapters 1 -3) 2. Origin and development of poetry (4 -5) 3. Tragedies (6 -22) 4. Epic poetry (23 -24) 5. Criticism and replies (25) 6. Tragedies in comparison with epic poetry (26)

Nature and kinds • Poetry is imitation • Kinds of poetry – Media –

Nature and kinds • Poetry is imitation • Kinds of poetry – Media – Objects – Modes

Media • • • Colors and shapes (images) Voice Language Rythm Melody

Media • • • Colors and shapes (images) Voice Language Rythm Melody

Objects • People in active life – Better – Worse – Like us

Objects • People in active life – Better – Worse – Like us

Modes • Narrative • Acting

Modes • Narrative • Acting

Origin and development • Origin – Nature: Imitation is natural to man – Pleasure:

Origin and development • Origin – Nature: Imitation is natural to man – Pleasure: Everybody loves imitation • Development – Epic poetry – Tragedies – Comedies

Origins of poetry • Imitation is natural to man – Most tendency to imitation

Origins of poetry • Imitation is natural to man – Most tendency to imitation – Learn by imitationg • Everybody takes pleasure from imitation – Learn something (pleasure from knowledge) – Style, color etc. (if no model)

The six elements • • • Plot-structure (myþos) - Objects Character (eþos) - Objects

The six elements • • • Plot-structure (myþos) - Objects Character (eþos) - Objects Style (lexis) - Media Thought (dianoia) - Objects Spectacle (opsis) - Modes Songs (melopoieia) - Media

Definition • Tragedy is a representation (mimesis) of an action which is serious, complete

Definition • Tragedy is a representation (mimesis) of an action which is serious, complete and of a certain magnitude • In the mode of dramatic enactment, not narrative • Through the arousal of pity and fear effecting the katharsis of such emotions

What is being represented? • Not people or character, but a course of action

What is being represented? • Not people or character, but a course of action • The plot-structure (the story) is the main concern, only secondly the characters • The characters are in the service of the course of action (the plot-structure)

Structure and scale • Representation of a chain of action of a certain size

Structure and scale • Representation of a chain of action of a certain size • Whole: beginning, middle, end • A beautiful object must possess – Ordered arrangement – Appropriate scale • Beauty is grounded in size and order • Criterion: Perception of the whold

Principles of structure • Unity of action – the action must form – Unity

Principles of structure • Unity of action – the action must form – Unity – Whole • If the presence or absence of some part does not matter it is not a part of the whole

Reversal and recognition • Reversal: swing in the direction of the action • Recognition:

Reversal and recognition • Reversal: swing in the direction of the action • Recognition: change from ignorance to knowledge • Best when both go together

Poetry and philosophy • Poetry deals with what could occur • Possible by the

Poetry and philosophy • Poetry deals with what could occur • Possible by the standards of probability and necessity • Poetry is more philosophical than history – Expresses the universal rather than the particular – What a certain kind of character is likely to say or do

Poetry and metre • The story (plot-structure) is more important than the metre •

Poetry and metre • The story (plot-structure) is more important than the metre • Poetry consists in imitation (mimesis) • The imitation is of action • The actions are probable or possible

Reply to critics • In the art of poetry one can fail in two

Reply to critics • In the art of poetry one can fail in two ways: – Failure in an extrinsic matter – Failure in the art itself • Plato fails to make this distinction

Summary • The art of poetry is subject to general laws • It can

Summary • The art of poetry is subject to general laws • It can be analysed and understood • Poetry consists in the representation of action • Its effect is the cleaning (katharsis) of emotion

Mimesis and expression • Mimesis distinguishes poetry from other things • Poetry has emotional

Mimesis and expression • Mimesis distinguishes poetry from other things • Poetry has emotional effect • But poetry is not the expression of emotion

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