The Literary Theories of Plato and Aristotle: Its Significance for Modern Aesthetics

• Project/Area Number: 15K16631
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: History of thought
• Research Institution: J. F. Oberlin University (2016-2017); Kyoto University (2015)
• Principal Investigator: Tanaka Ikko 桜美林大学, 人文学系, 講師 (50705192)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2017)
• Budget Amount: ¥2,080,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥480,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥650,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥150,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥780,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥180,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥650,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥150,000)
• Keywords: プラトン / アリストテレス / ミーメーシス / 模倣 / 詩 / 芸術 / 表象 / 美学 / 古代ギリシア / 文芸論 / フィクションと感情 / 国家 / 模倣術

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this research was to present the significance of ancient literary theories, especially of Plato and Aristotle, for modern Aesthetics. First, I focused on investigating a basic concept of ancient literary criticism, that is, "mimesis," and I studied the historical development of the concept and its significance for the history of philosophy. Next, I focused on the modern concept of "representation" and its difference from mimesis. Third, I compared the modern aesthetic judgement about "whether it is fiction or not" with the ancient criterion about "whether it is alethes or pseudes."

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Divine Immortality and Mortal Immortality in Plato’s Symposium (2016)
  • Author(s): Ikko Tanaka
  • Journal Title: International Plato Stucies 35: Plato in Symposium Volume: 35 Pages: 303-308
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] On the Assimilation to the Forms in Plato’s Republic 6 (2018)
  • Author(s): Ikko Tanaka
  • Organizer: The 2nd Asia Regional Meeting of the International Plato Society
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Mimesis in Plato's Timaeus (2017)
  • Author(s): Ikko Tanaka
  • Organizer: Third Interdisciplinary Symposium on the Heritage of Western Greece
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] プラトン『国家』篇における哲学者による模倣について (2017)
  • Author(s): 田中一孝
  • Organizer: 中畑正志先生ご還暦記念研究会
• [Presentation] Plato on Poetry, Emotion and Its Significance for Modern Aesthetics (2016)
  • Author(s): Ikko Tanaka
  • Organizer: 20th International Congress of Aesthetics
  • Place of Presentation: ソウル
  • Year and Date: 2016-07-26
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Plato on Poetry, Emotion and its Significance for Modern Aesthetics (2016)
  • Author(s): Ikko Tanaka
  • Organizer: 20th International Congress of Aesthetics
  • Place of Presentation: ソウル（韓国）
  • Year and Date: 2016-07-24
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] プラトンとミーメーシス (2016)
  • Author(s): 田中一孝
  • Organizer: 古代哲学フォーラム第45回例会
  • Place of Presentation: 大学コンソーシアム京都（京都府・京都市）
  • Year and Date: 2016-03-26