Ion And The Republic

The most important poetics theory of Plato is included in his two dialogues: Ion and the Republic.Ion expresses the impossibility of poets and poem.poetry comes from poetry divinity`s advent.poet`s inspiration is divine granted;But in the Republic,Plato thinks that poetry is the simulation of our sensation world which is under the‘idea world'.About the viewpoints of these two dialogues,Plato`s attitude towards poem seems to be paradoxical.The thought in Ion is a popular idea in ancient Greek which is named ‘Mania'.And the theory in the Republic is another popular idea in ancient Greek which is named ‘Mimesis‘.They all come from an unique poetics theory in ancient Greek,but they are opposite in Plato`s book.In order to understand the poetry development of ancient Greek better,it is necessary to study the reason and expression of these two theories.In this essay,the author makes two analyses: Firstly,it is widely accepted to divide Plato`s dialogue into periods.Researchers always regardPlato`s early and middle-early productions as depiction of Socrates` philosophy.And they always regard middle and late Plato`s works like the Republic as his own original creation.Accordingto this,the author suggests that the poetics theory in Ion can be concluded as Socrates` poetics theory.Secondly,above the comparative analysis of the two texts,the author comprehensively analyses the difference and similarity of them.The conclusion is: from Socrates to Aristotle,the poetics theory of the three great philosopher is gradually evolving and changing.In this process,Plato`s poetics theory is an important connection of the two different ages.