Poetics of the Divine Age (Rethinking and Understanding the Poetic Thought of Plato and Aristotle)

Author: Li Ping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: Ancient Greek poetics is the source of various later theories, not only having a profound impact in the West but also holding significant importance for academic research in China. This book, through a comparative analysis of the poetics of Plato and Aristotle—representative figures of ancient Greek poetics—discusses the formal and developmental aspects of ancient Greek poetics against the backdrop of its vast religious context, as well as the characteristics of theory within this context. It provides an in-depth examination and exploration of important categories and concepts in ancient Greek poetics, such as "Forms," "inspiration," "spirit," "poet," "mimesis," and "fiction." Building on this foundation, the book offers a thorough elaboration on the "theory of style," "ontology," "theory of creation," and "theory of reception," offering great assistance to theoretical researchers.
Postscript: My interest in literary theory dates back to my youth. I have witnessed on multiple occasions the touching scene of the renowned literary theorist Geng Yong, who, despite being in dire straits, remained steadfast in his pursuit of knowledge, leaving a deep impression on my heart. However, choosing ancient Greek poetics as a further research topic was something that only happened in recent years. Three years ago, under the guidance of Professor Sun Jingyao, I began pursuing a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and Literary Theory. Professor Sun offered a course titled "Topics in Western Literary Theory," in which he addressed many important issues in the history of Western poetics, naturally including ancient Greek poetics. Whenever we encountered theoretical difficulties, Professor Sun would share insightful words that inspired us, encouraging us to explore further. He is a stern teacher. He often emphasized the importance of "critical awareness!" This required us, in our studies and research, not to blindly follow predecessors or engage in superficial work, but to strive to produce truly valuable insights through rigorous intellectual labor. Through my regular teaching and research, I have found that ancient Greek poetics, as the origin of literary theory, is a formidable stronghold—one that serves as both a theoretical genesis and a foundation for explaining and organizing other theoretical branches. However, for some complex and worthy issues within it, Chinese interpretations often appear overly simplistic or are simply overlooked. This has rendered many discussions that should be cohesive (including teaching) and ineffective. Having previously written a small treatise on poetics theory, I was inspired to consider ancient Greek poetics as my research subject. In the autumn of 2001, the renowned French philosopher Jacques Derrida visited Shanghai. During a welcome event hosted by the French Consulate, Professor Sun had a conversation with Mr. Wang Yuanyhua. When Mr. Wang Yuanyhua heard that the students would be researching individual theoretical issues under Professor Sun’s guidance, he encouraged: "Exactly, what is needed is such specific research." Mr. Wang Yuanyhua is a revered scholar whom I greatly admire, and his words further solidified my research intentions. At the end of the course, I proposed the idea of using my Ph.D. dissertation to study ancient Greek poetics, which was met with Professor Sun’s understanding and support. I first spent time compiling A Chronology of Plato and Aristotle’s Poetic Thought, and then immersed myself in the formal writing process. During this time, I received meticulous guidance from my supervisor, Professor Sun Jingyao. However, ancient Greek scholarship is like the vast ocean. Despite my years of foundational work in literary theory, conducting specialized research on ancient Greek poetics was new to me. Amidst the endless sea of books and the labyrinth of profound yet obscure theories, I often found myself exhausted and disheartened while sitting at my desk under the dim light. It was Hamilton’s passionate work, The Greek Spirit—The Source of Western Civilization, that repeatedly renewed my literary vigor, giving me the determination to continue exploring this theoretically rich classical topic. I fully understand that the words here are merely a beginning. Though the theme is grand, my limited academic and intellectual resources will inevitably leave room for improvement. Nevertheless, it has already kindled my research passion, and I will continue to explore from this starting point, making my unremitting efforts.
At the time of this book’s publication, I extend my sincere gratitude and profound respect to Professors Zhu Liyuan, Zheng Kelu, Xie Tianzhen, Lu Shuyuan, Wang Jiren, Ye Huanyuan, Liu Fengjie, and Yan Ming. The Shanghai People’s Publishing House has a long-standing tradition of publishing monographs on ancient Greek studies, and their colleagues have generously supported academic endeavors, enabling the dissemination of this work. I dedicate this book in token of my appreciation.
Li Ping
August 2004, after returning from a European tour
at Lüshi World Garden