POETICS (Gk. ircpt ircurrocis, peri poietikes). A fragmentary treatise by Aristotle on the phi losophy of art, and especially of poetry. All we have of it ( and possibly all that was ever writ ten) is the discussion of epic poetry and the tragic drama, fortunately enriched with many allusions to the other arts; but restricted as it is, this treatise is unquestionably the most im portant work on criticism ever written, intrinsic ally as well as historically. Art. in Aristotle's conception, is 'imitation of life,' and its purpose is to give pleasure. This doctrine can be fully understood only in the light of Aristotle's meta physical conceptions. He defines life as action or as an activity, and undoubtedly has in mind what elsewhere he calls the formal and moving causes, corresponding very closely to Plato's 'Ideas;' the 'imitation,' therefore, has a far subtler meaning than first appears, referring to the instinctive idealizations which underlie ar tistic embodiments, and form the essence of the artist's effort. Again. pleasure as the purpose of art must be understood to refer only to the finer satisfactions of taste; in no sense are gross enjoyments intended. Poetry, Aristotle held, ap
pears as a result of a natural instinct and of native love of rhythm. At the same time the poet must have the "gift of metaphor." and this comes "not by art, but as a happy gift of nature." Perhaps the most acute of Aristotle's a-sthetie theories is his explanation of the office of tragedy. This he finds to be a purgation of the passions. katharsis, through terror and noble pity. It is an exercise of the emotions in moderation, and so a relief of the tendency to emotional expression which men nat urally have, without the wrack and strain which extreme emotion incurs. Hence it is akin to physical purgation, and is further a kind of pleasure because it contributes to that general temperance which was the Greek ideal of excel lence. Consult: Butcher, Aristotle's Theory of Poetry and Fine Art, with a Critical Text and Translation of the Poetics (3d ed., New York, 1903).