Poetics - Softcover

Aristotle

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1605203556 ISBN 13: 9781605203553

Publisher: Cosimo Classics, 2008

Synopsis

The writings of Greek philosopher ARISTOTLE (384BC–322BC)―student of Plato, teacher of Alexander the Great―are among the most influential on Western thought, and indeed upon Western civilization itself. From theology and logic to politics and even biology, there is no area of human knowledge that has not been touched by his thinking. Poetics―one of Aristotle’s greatest works―is the philosopher’s grand and insightful essay on art and its purposes. Why must a story have a beginning, a middle, and an end? How can we define tragedy, and what is the artistic purpose of it? Is there one “ideal” kind of drama? What is the nature of poetry? How consciously should poets and playwrights construct their work? All these questions, and others, are discussed and debated in this, perhaps the single most significant text in Western critical tradition. Writers, actors, students of literature, and armchair philosophers will find it a challenging―and rewarding―read.

About this title

About the Author

Aristotle (384 BC – 322 BC) was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology. Together with Plato and Socrates (Plato's teacher), Aristotle is one of the most important founding figures in Western philosophy. Aristotle's writings were the first to create a comprehensive system of Western philosophy, encompassing morality, aesthetics, logic, science, politics, and metaphysics.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cosimo Classics
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1605203556
• ISBN 13: 9781605203553
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 68