La mimesis poietike in Aristotele, tra mimesis e phantasia

Abstract:

This work examines the theme of the relationship between mimesis, phantasia and poiesis in Aristotle. This examination starts from the consideration of a fundamental placement of the Greek philosopher’s reflection within a horizon of metaphysical thought, in which the concept of mimesis occupies a fundamental place. This concept establishes a dependent relationship between image and represented object and places Aristotelian poetics in clear discontinuity with the categories of invention and creation. If this is the case, any possibility of tracing a founding condition of poiesis in fantasy would seem to be precluded. This would be true if these categories were adequate to account for the concept of phantasia as it is thought of by the Greek philosopher, who, instead, defines it as a movement closely linked to the forms of sensorial passivity. Therefore, we must read and define the relationship between phantasia and mimesis poietike starting from a critical deconstruction of the former notion.