The purpose of art and the place of the artist has long been debated, and by many a critic. Two of these critics are Plato and Sir Philip Sydney. Their similarities and differences will be compared and contrasted using two of their works: Plato's The Republic and Sydney's The Defense of Poesy. .
It is odd that Plato banished poets, and had so many negative words towards poetry, considering his philosophy was clothed in poetry. But, it is more of a negative view upon "the abuse, not the thing" (Sydney 174). There are disagreements between Plato and Sydney. A major one involves imitation. Is art's sole function to be imitative? Plato believes that " poetry and mythology are, in some cases, wholly imitative" (Plato 14). According to Sydney though, the poet is a maker, yet all art is based in nature. Plato and Sydney also differ on the subject of imitation in the regard that Plato believes that imitation is wrong, and Sydney believes it is good giving the example that man is made in the image of God. Man is an imitation, therefore art as imitation is pure. Sydney believes that poetry is an art of imitation, and Plato believes that imitative poetry " ought not to be received" (Plato 19). Another view on imitation by Plato is that " there are three arts which are concerned with all things: one which uses, another which makes, a third which imitates them" (Plato 25). Also, according to Plato " no one man can imitate many things" (Plato 14). This can relate to actors, implying that they can only be masterful at one or a few things, not very many, or the skill level is low. Plato gives no credit to imitators citing "Imitation is only a kind of play or sport, and tragic poets, whether they write in Iambic or Heroic verse, are imitators in the highest degree" (Plato 26). Sydney believes though, that art as imitation is a speaking picture that teaches and delights.
"The real artist, who knew what he was imitating, would be interested in realities and not in imitations: and would desire to leave as memorials of himself works many and fair; and, instead of being the author of encomiums, he would prefer to be the theme of them" (Plato 23).
The beliefs of Plato and Aristotle can be both valid and invalid in many different ways. ... Aristotle believes in experience as reason and Plato does not. ... In relation to this issue of physical senses vs. emotional senses, such an example to compare and contrast the two is sex. ... This is in too many cases false and an instance that sides me a bit with Plato. ... This instance however, also makes me disagree with Plato as well. ...
This act symbolically shows Sydney converting into a new man. Secondly, "rust and repose" describe Sydney's life (80). ... Lucie cares about Sydney, and that gives him a purpose to live. ... Lastly, Sydney's agape love for Lucie is so abounding that he would even give up his life for someone that she loves. ... Sydney's love for Lucie has transformed him into a totally different character. ...
Aristotle was Plato's student. ... (Palmer, p.59) in the allegory of the cave: Sensible Realm vs. ... That is why Plato says of the Good that it is beyond being and knowledge. ... Aristotle refutes Plato's Theory of Forms using the third man argument. ... Plato focuses more on Forms, like how objects participates in Forms. ...
A case in point is the prevalent acceptance of Plato's dichotomy between mind/soul and body. This distinction has been presented in many forms : real vs ideal; spirit vs flesh; earthly vs ethereal; temporal vs eternal; imperfect vs perfect. ... In Plato's eyes, doing philosophy is separating the soul from the body, precisely so that one is not thinking about the here and now. ... Both accepted Plato's dualism, but simply picked opposite sides of the same coin. ... The bane of modern philosophy is that Plato's successor corrected his mistake, and erased the contradiction...
The force of true love motivates Sydney Carton. ... Stryver's success is without a doubt Sydney Carton. ... Sydney is willing to do anything on earth for Lucie. ... This holds true in the case of Sydney Carton. ... Sydney Carton is an irrefutable hero of the novel. ...
Plato Plato, an Athenian Greek of an upper class aristocratic family, and an active philosopher in the first half of the fourth century B.C. born in 427 B.C. ... Plato believed that the form came in three phases, Idea, Morph, and Eidos. Idea (ideen) was what Plato called the first glimpse of something. ... Plato's belief in qualities is present in today's religious society. ... Plato describes the Recollection a cycle. ...
Plato's utopia appears, at first, to be an excellent idea. ... Plato agrees with the second definition. ... Plato organizes people into three categories. ... Plato is distrustful of human nature. ... Aristotle views Plato's ideal city as unrealistic. ...
Plato Plato is one of the most important philosophers in ancient Greek philosophy. ... Also, Plato learned that the goal of philosophy is to understand the general concept. ... Plato refers to reason as the good, the true, the beautiful, courage and justice. ... In this level Plato refers to imagination. ... According to the article Plato's Republic by Jenny Hen, Plato makes a connection between the principle of justice and his Theory of Forms. ...
