ABSTRACT
In the first great work of Western literary theory, the Poetics, Aristotle presents a case for the proposition that a philosopher like himself should be taking poetry seriously. Poetry (especially in the form of drama) presents causal sequences of fictional events. It thus tells us something. It adds exemplary possibilities to our experience. It has, accordingly, something philosophical about it – even if it is evidently distinguishable from, and subordinate to, philosophy proper such as Aristotle himself is engaged in. 1
