ABSTRACT
Aristotle was the leading Greek philosopher of the generation after Plato, and, like him, had an immense continuing influence, both in later antiquity and in medieval and modern times. Born in Stagira in northern Greece, he spent much of his life in Athens, first as a pupil of Plato in the Academy, and later as a teacher in his own school, the Lyceum. This chapter gives an overview of the topics discussed in the surviving part of the Poetics, and then focuses on three particularly important concepts which recur throughout the discussion, mimesis, unity and universality. Aristotle never says in so many words what distinguishes poetic mimesis from other forms, but it becomes clear from his discussion that it is at least mimesis which involves verse; this sets it apart from dance and instrumental music, which make use only of rhythm and melody, and from imitation in prose, of which Socratic dialogues are mentioned as an example.
