state the views of Plato on the nature and functions of poetry?
Answers
Explanation:
Aristotle was the disciple of Plato and was influenced by him a great deal. But he differed from his guru in certain respects. Plato condemned poetry, Aristotle appreciated it. Plato set out to reorganize human life; Aristotle to re-organise human knowledge. Plato was a transcendentalist, who arrived at his principles through observation and analysis. Plata was an idealist, too.
He believed that the phenomenal world is but an objectification of the ideal world. The ideal world is real, the phenomenal world is but a shadow of this ideal reality. It is, therefore, fleeting and unreal. Aristotle, on the other hand, believed in the reality of the world of the senses. It is on the basis of the study and observation of particular realities that general principles can be induced. Thus, Aristotle moves from the real, to the ideal, from the particular to the general. His methods are inductive. In this respect, he stands at the opposite pole from Plato.
Plato's language is poetic and charming, Aristotle's is dogmatic and telegraphic. There was more originality in Plato than in Aristotle, but Aristotle is more comprehensive and systematic than Plato. Plato used first the word 'imitation' in connection with poetry. But Plato considered imitation merely as mimicry or a servile copy of nature. Aristotle's interpretation of it has a far-deeper significance. For Aristotle, imitation was a creative force.
Plato likened poetry to painting. Aristotle likened it to music. Plato believed that poetry imitates only the external superficial appearances, and that it is, therefore, twice removed from reality. On the other hand, Aristotle believed that poetry imitates not only the externals, but also internal emotions and experiences. Plato regards that poetry imitates objects as usual, or better or worse than they are. Poetry gives or traces possibility. It explores what ought to be.
Plato was critical of poetry on moral intellectual and emotional grounds. Aristotle has justified all the claims of superiority of poetry on moral, intellectual and emotional grounds. Aristotle used the word 'katharsis' for the first time.
Plato regarded philosophy to be superior to poetry. Aristotle regarded poetry to be superior to philosophy. Plato was of the view that poetry being a false imitation does not have power or scope to deal with high philosophical matters. Aristotle, quite contrary to it, believed that poetry is the more philosophical. It has immense power to deal with even philosophical matters.
Plato regarded emotions as useless for poetry. He advocated their repression. Aristotle, on the other hand, regarded the emotion as of vital importance to poetic creation. For Aristotle, poetry was but a mere emotional outlet.