Aristotle vs. Plato (on poets and poetry)

By King Meera -
1. Source
Aristotle considered poetry as a product of skill or art, both of which are based on rational and intelligible principles
Plato treated poetry as inspired, therefore irrational

2. Imitation
Aristotle valued imitation as an enabler of learning. Furthermore since poetry is a representation of things that might happen in human lives, and universal situations of poetry are more philosophical than the particulars of a historical narrative, poetry gives us a more generalized understanding of human nature. Furthermore people delight in accurate imitations and they have cognitive value - they satisfy our natural desire to learn
Plato believed that poets have no knowledge of what they imitate and hence their imitations are at a third remove from reality

3. Morally harmful
Aristotle believed that poetry and tragedy engages out emotions and is therefore beneficial
Plato believed that poetry stimulated emotions that ought to be suppressed


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