Which civilization was the first to articulate and develop the philosophy of art life in the 5th century B.C.?
The Greeks.
According to the source, Greek philosophy is the foundation of most theoretical and practical _____.
criticism
What fundamental debate, inaugurated by the ancient Greeks, is still the concern of contemporary literary critics?
The debate on the nature and function of literature.
Which modern philosopher stated that “all of Western philosophy is but a footnote to Plato”?
Alfred North Whitehead.
Plato’s philosophy laid the foundation for pivotal issues such as the concepts of truth, beauty, and _____.
goodness
What is the philosophical study of the nature and relation of being called?
Ontology.
What is the philosophical study of questions about how we know and what we know called?
Epistemology.
In Plato’s Doctrine of Essences, what constitutes the ultimate reality?
The spiritual world, or the world of forms.
According to Plato, the material world is merely an imitation of the ideal forms found in the _____.
spiritual world
Plato’s doctrine of essences is considered the dawn of the first articulated _____.
literary theory
Before Plato, how did Greek culture primarily order its world and formulate theories of goodness?
Through poetry and the poetic imagination, by observing good characters in works like The Iliad.
What was the pre-Platonic, observational method of discovering truth called?
The presentational mode.
Plato condemned literature’s role in discerning truth, favoring what method instead?
Inquiry and abstract thinking, using formal logic and reason.
According to Plato, a poet writing about an object in the material world is merely imitating an _____.
imitation
How many steps removed from ultimate reality did Plato believe a poet was?
Two steps or degrees.
Why did Plato believe poets could not be trusted?
Because they imitate mere copies of reality and rely on untrustworthy intuition for inspiration.
What reason did Plato give for asserting that poets’ works could no longer be the basis for Greek morality and ethics?
Their works proliferate lies about the nature of ultimate reality, such as gods who lie and cheat.
In which of his works did Plato famously conclude that the poets must be banished?
The Republic.
Despite his condemnation, what societal need did Plato recognize for poets?
To ‘celebrate the victors’ of the state and sing the praises of loyal Greeks.
According to Plato, what concept serves as the link between politics and literature?
Morality.
While Plato’s literary criticism focused on morality, what was Aristotle’s primary emphasis?
The elements and characteristics of a literary work itself.
What was the name of the school founded by Aristotle for scientific and philosophical investigation?
The Lyceum.
In which work did Aristotle answer Plato’s accusations against poetry?
The Poetics.
The title Poetics comes from the Greek word ‘poetikes,’ which means what?
Things that are made or crafted.
