Document Type : Original Article

Author

• Masoud AlgoonehJouneghani

-Associate professor of Persian language and literature Humanities faculty- University of Isfahan

Abstract

Abstract
Mimesis, along with Techne and Poiesis, is one of the key terms in Plato's philosophy of art, which involves the representation of the outside world in the creation of a work of art. Since in Plato's view, the process of representation is looked upon from an onto-epistemological viewpoint, what Plato asserts about Mimesis is influenced by the hierarchical position of existence and, consequently, knowledge. In fact, from this point of view, Mimesis represents phenomena whose authenticity is not confirmed, and therefore the artistic product created through this process is also considered an illusory phenomenon. Accordingly, while examining the authenticity of the assumptions that Plato adheres to in the design of the theory of Mimesis, the present study has tried to examine the necessary and logical consequences of this theory and reveal its shortcomings based on the critical reading of Cratylus. This study shows that what Plato yields about the non-originality of artistic knowledge is ultimately true of language as well. Therefore, commitment to his assumptions and theoretical conclusions entails that if art and artists are considered as subject to the non-original perception of phenomena, the language and language user, based on his perceptions, also lack a genuine and valid understanding of the around world.

Keywords

• Plato
• Mimesis
• Poiesis
• Cratylus
• Onto-epistemological theory