Aristotle On Poetics - Hardcover

Benardete, Seth; Davis, Michael

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1587310252 ISBN 13: 9781587310256

Publisher: St Augustine's Press, 2002

Synopsis

In this refreshingly vivid new translation by A S G Thurston, Aristotle can be seen to be summarising the main principles of aesthetic appreciation in ancient Greece which established the fundamental theory and practice in western art for the following 2,400 years.No one has ever made such a systematic study and full-scale investigation encompassing the entire range of human knowledge as he did. So the Poetics is consequently the first and most important study of this kind in the history of western civilisation. All concepts on aesthetics, which we know today, are rooted in this book. Today however, Aristotle must be understood on several levels in a complex fashion, as Thurston believes he originally intended it to be. So with the use of today's English words and phrases Thurston presents the Poetics in an accessible way for students of theatre, and for anyone interested in reading Aristotle.

About this title

Synopsis:

Aristotle's much-translated On Poetics is the earliest and arguably the best treatment that we possess of tragedy as a literary form. Seth Benardete and Michael Davis have translated it anew with a view to rendering Aristotle's text into English as precisely as possible. A literal translation has long been needed, for in order to excavate the argument of On Poetics one has to attend not simply to what is said on the surface but also to the various puzzles, questions, and peculiarities that emerge only on the level of how Aristotle says what he says and thereby leads one to revise and deepen one's initial understanding of the intent of the argument. As On Poetics is about how tragedy ought to be composed, it should not be surprising that it turns out to be a rather artful piece of literature in its own right. Benardete and Davis supplement their edition of On Poetics with extensive notes and appendices.

They explain nuances of the original that elude translation, and they provide translations of passages found elsewhere in Aristotle's works as well as in those of other ancient authors that prove useful in thinking through the argument of On Poetics both in terms of its treatment of tragedy and in terms of its broader concerns. By following the connections Aristotle plots between On Poetics and his other works, readers will be in a position to appreciate the centrality of this little book for his thought on the whole. In an introduction that sketches the overall interpretation of On Poetics presented in hisThe Poetry of Philosophy (St. Augustine's Press, 1999; see p. 30 of this catalogue), Davis argues that, while On Poetics is certainly about tragedy, it has a further concern extending beyond poetry to the very structure of the human soul in its relation to what is, and that Aristotle reveals in the form of his argument the true character of human action.

About the Author:

Adrian Thurston studied Classical Greek including culture language and philosophy at East London University, continuing to study independently to become autodidactic in this subject. He became Artistic Director of Studio '68 of Theatre Arts Drama School, London during 1988, a school known for producing many internationally known actors such as Sir Sean Connery, Helena Bonham Carter among others. He worked for Debra Bolling Productions in New York City during 1990-1991 and has directed music videos for Warner and others. He has lectured in film and television at the London Academy of Radio Film and Television and occasionally directs shorts for TV. Best known in London for founding fringe theatres such as The Chair Theatre and The Alma Cafe Theatre, and his involvement with the Barons Court Theatre, The Gate Theatre and The Finborough Theatre. Works: Boudicca Regina, Greek Fire, Beatcop, Glaswegian Kiss, The Red Sphere, Direction: The Company of Wolves, 1984, Highlander (the original), One Day He is able to perform some early poetry in an exciting and evocative manner reminiscent of its early origins.

About this edition

• Publisher: St Augustine's Press
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 1587310252
• ISBN 13: 9781587310256
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 144