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

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• 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
• Keywords: プラトン / アリストテレス / ミーメーシス / 模倣 / 詩 / 芸術

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."

Free Research Field

西洋古代哲学史