“Resemblance Argument” and Controversies over Mimesis

Contrary to the common interpretation of Platonic art that supports the view that it is ontologically and gnoseologically irrelevant because it is mainly defined by mimetic concept as a mere imitation of the material world, and is therefore banished from the Republic, we will offer some different i...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Nives Delija
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Society for the Advancement of Philosophy 2004-06-01
Series:Prolegomena
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.hrstud.hr/prolegomena/Pro-2004-1/Pro-2004-1-Cl-Delija.pdf
_version_ 1818441857024131072
author Nives Delija
author_facet Nives Delija
author_sort Nives Delija
collection DOAJ
description Contrary to the common interpretation of Platonic art that supports the view that it is ontologically and gnoseologically irrelevant because it is mainly defined by mimetic concept as a mere imitation of the material world, and is therefore banished from the Republic, we will offer some different interpretations. Namely, it is possible to show that mimetic principle is not the reason why Plato condemns art, and that the notion of artistic mimesis in fact stems from the metaphysical notion of mimesis as approximation or gradual resemblance to the paradigm. In this case artistic mimesis achieves higher ontological authenticity and imitates the ideal by means of the sensory. Parmenides’ “resemblance argument” may constitute a serious obstacle for the acceptance of, on the one hand, the idea of the relation of resemblance (homoiotes) between Forms and particulars, that is between the paradigm and its image, and on the other hand it may question the idea of approximation in which mimetic principle has metaphysical foundation. However, when Form is seen as a synthetic unity of many things (hen epi pollon), it then represents the right standpoint for the explanation of the phenomena, and it becomes questionable when it is placed on the same level with its exemplars. If the relation of resemblance between the paradigm and its image is determined by the “dynamic”, and not by “symmetric resemblance” in which both parts are on the same level of ontological authenticity, then the view of philosophical mimesis as approximation on which relies artistic mimetic concept is legitimate.
first_indexed 2024-12-14T18:34:54Z
format Article
id doaj.art-4e103f994ee24039b2986e50aaddabdb
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1333-4395
1846-0593
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-14T18:34:54Z
publishDate 2004-06-01
publisher Society for the Advancement of Philosophy
record_format Article
series Prolegomena
spelling doaj.art-4e103f994ee24039b2986e50aaddabdb2022-12-21T22:51:39ZengSociety for the Advancement of PhilosophyProlegomena1333-43951846-05932004-06-0131314“Resemblance Argument” and Controversies over MimesisNives DelijaContrary to the common interpretation of Platonic art that supports the view that it is ontologically and gnoseologically irrelevant because it is mainly defined by mimetic concept as a mere imitation of the material world, and is therefore banished from the Republic, we will offer some different interpretations. Namely, it is possible to show that mimetic principle is not the reason why Plato condemns art, and that the notion of artistic mimesis in fact stems from the metaphysical notion of mimesis as approximation or gradual resemblance to the paradigm. In this case artistic mimesis achieves higher ontological authenticity and imitates the ideal by means of the sensory. Parmenides’ “resemblance argument” may constitute a serious obstacle for the acceptance of, on the one hand, the idea of the relation of resemblance (homoiotes) between Forms and particulars, that is between the paradigm and its image, and on the other hand it may question the idea of approximation in which mimetic principle has metaphysical foundation. However, when Form is seen as a synthetic unity of many things (hen epi pollon), it then represents the right standpoint for the explanation of the phenomena, and it becomes questionable when it is placed on the same level with its exemplars. If the relation of resemblance between the paradigm and its image is determined by the “dynamic”, and not by “symmetric resemblance” in which both parts are on the same level of ontological authenticity, then the view of philosophical mimesis as approximation on which relies artistic mimetic concept is legitimate.http://www.hrstud.hr/prolegomena/Pro-2004-1/Pro-2004-1-Cl-Delija.pdfPlatoartmimesisresemblanceapproximationParmenides
spellingShingle Nives Delija
“Resemblance Argument” and Controversies over Mimesis
Prolegomena
Plato
art
mimesis
resemblance
approximation
Parmenides
title “Resemblance Argument” and Controversies over Mimesis
title_full “Resemblance Argument” and Controversies over Mimesis
title_fullStr “Resemblance Argument” and Controversies over Mimesis
title_full_unstemmed “Resemblance Argument” and Controversies over Mimesis
title_short “Resemblance Argument” and Controversies over Mimesis
title_sort resemblance argument and controversies over mimesis
topic Plato
art
mimesis
resemblance
approximation
Parmenides
url http://www.hrstud.hr/prolegomena/Pro-2004-1/Pro-2004-1-Cl-Delija.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT nivesdelija resemblanceargumentandcontroversiesovermimesis