Aristotle\'s \"Poetics\" in the Context

Aristotle's "poetics" in the context of Plato's "Apology"

Aristotle's "Poetics" is the earliest work that takes on a philosophical approach at discussing literary theory. The concepts that the philosopher puts across throughout this work are essential in getting a more complex understanding of various literary works that have been created across time. Plato's "Apology" is especially important when discussing it from the perspective of Aristotelian philosophy, as readers are virtually enabled to understand the exact intentions of the writer at particular moments. As Plato wanted to put across an account regarding a man who speaks in his own defense with the purpose of convincing others concerning the purity of his thinking he brings on a series of concepts that one is likely to identify in "Poetics."

Catharsis is probably one of the first Aristotelian concepts that a person is probable to observe in Plato's text. Socrates initially wants to clarify matters with the purpose of making it possible for his audience to gain a better understanding of the matter under discussion. By emphasizing the ignorance dominating his thinking he expects his listeners to acknowledge that he is speaking from the perspective of a simple man instead of trying to manipulate their thinking by making use of his oratorical skills.

Socrates' character uses catharsis during his speech with the intention of clearing the minds of the judges, as he is well aware that his accusers have gone through great efforts in order to influence these people's thinking. His claim that the words of his accusers "almost made me forget who I was -- such was the effect of them; and yet they have hardly spoken a word of truth" (Plato) were obviously intended to address the clear thinking that he believed dominated the minds of his judges.

The Athenians actually perform an act of tragic hamartia at the point when they actually come to believe that Socrates needs to be harshly punished as a result of his presumed breaking of several laws. Even with this, it is only safe to say that even though Socrates lost in his attempts to convince the judges concerning his innocence, philosophy in general experienced a victory at this point. Socrates actually wants to demonstrate that even though the system uses force in an attempt to control the public, he is beyond the reach of his society's leaders and his philosophy cannot possibly be affected by them.

While the judges can be considered responsible for hamartia, Socrates himself is also accountable for hamartia when considering that he plays an important role in influencing the judges in wanting to put him to death. He actually has a choice, but he is reluctant to adopt an attitude that would induce feelings related to mercy.

Ethos is also a dominant concept across Socrates' discourse, as he apparently believed that by influencing the audience to think about how they perceive goodness he would open people's eyes and influence them in seeing that he was actually innocent. Socrates basically felt that people needed to think about themselves and on how they understand the difference between right and wrong in order to be able to learn more about his personality. He practically believed that by adopting this attitude he would influence the masses in feeling that it would be extremely wrong for them to support an episode in which an innocent man would be put to death for no reason whatsoever. Socrates obviously believed that ethos would be an important tool in the overall argument that he was putting across and that it was essential for him to appeal to people's feelings with regard to humanity in general in order to enable them to see matters from a different perspective.

Agnorisis also takes place in Plato's "Apology," taking into account that Socrates eventually comes to realize that his own thinking is responsible for influencing his judges to consider that it would be wrong for them to consider him innocent. It is practically as if Socrates becomes acquainted with the harmful effect that his own personality has on him. He has no choice but to accept his fate, as doing otherwise would simply mean that he would change everything about who he is.