Organic composition or ut pictura poesis? ΖΩΙΟΝ in Aristotele’s poetics

This paper discusses Aristotle’s references to a ζῷον in his Poetics (1450b34–51a4 and 1459a20) and evaluates their implications. The usual interpretation, ‘living creature’ or ‘animal’, is one-sided, because the word ζῷον is Aristotle’s paradigm of homonymy, applying as it does to both the human be...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor: Galván-Moreno, L. R. (Luis Ramón)|||/items/2504060b-6922-4653-812e-1d99432d011b
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2024
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Navarra
Repositorio:Dadun. Depósito Académico Digital de la Universidad de Navarra
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:dadun.unav.edu:10171/70125
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10171/70125
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Aristotle
Poetics
Animal
Painting
Homonymy
Organic composition
Descripción
Sumario:This paper discusses Aristotle’s references to a ζῷον in his Poetics (1450b34–51a4 and 1459a20) and evaluates their implications. The usual interpretation, ‘living creature’ or ‘animal’, is one-sided, because the word ζῷον is Aristotle’s paradigm of homonymy, applying as it does to both the human being and the drawing (Cat. 1a1–6). After an examination of the two passages containing such references and their contexts, other passages by Aristotle and earlier writers (Plato, Alcidamas and Gorgias) that may shed light on the issue are analysed. The conclusion reflects on the relevance of the interpretation as ‘figure’ for the premises and purpose of the Poetics.