Téchne and Enthousiasmós in Plato’s Critique of Poetry



Téchne and Enthousiasmós in Plato’s Critique of Poetry

• Type	Journal Article
  Author	Javier Aguirre
  Rights	© 2016 Aletheia - Associação Científica e Cultural | © 2016 Revista Portuguesa de Filosofia
  Volume	72
  Issue	1
  Pages	181-198
  Publication	Revista Portuguesa de Filosofia
  ISSN	0870-5283; 2183-461X
  Date	2016
  DOI	10.17990/RPF/2016_72_1_0181
  Language	English
  Abstract	Platonic critique of poetry in the Ion is structured around notions of téchne (craft) and enthousiasmós (divine inspiration). Whilst téchne constitutes the fundamental assessment criteria for rhapsodic and poetic activity, enthousiasmós arises as an opposing notion to téchne, and it is in that opposition that its meaning within the dialogue lies. Firstly, Plato asks whether rhapsody and poetry are téchnai, and once that condition is refuted, the philosopher turns to the notion of enthousiasmós with the aim of explaining the origin of the activities of poets and rhapsodists. It can be concluded from the strategy developed by Plato in his dialogues, that his main interest lies in determining not so much what the source of poetic creation is (enthousiasmós), but rather what it is not (téchne), in a clearly political context. A context in which both notions appear for the first time in the history of Greek literature as opposing and exclusive, and where the legitimacy of poets and rhapsodists as competent models for guiding the polis and the citizens is brought into doubt.
  Date Added	13/04/2016, 16:26:11
  Modified	13/04/2016, 16:56:05

  Keywords:

  • enthousiasmós
  • Ion
  • Plato and poetry
  • téchne

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