Poetics before Plato: Interpretation and Authority in Early Greek Theories of Poetry

Grace M. Ledbetter

Published by Princeton University Press 2003

Poetics before Plato

Interpretation and Authority in Early Greek Theories of Poetry

Grace M. Ledbetter

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400825288

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About this book

Combining literary and philosophical analysis, this study defends an utterly innovative reading of the early history of poetics. It is the first to argue that there is a distinctively Socratic view of poetry and the first to connect the Socratic view of poetry with earlier literary tradition.

Literary theory is usually said to begin with Plato's famous critique of poetry in the Republic. Grace Ledbetter challenges this entrenched assumption by arguing that Plato's earlier dialogues Ion, Protagoras, and Apology introduce a distinctively Socratic theory of poetry that responds polemically to traditional poets as rival theorists. Ledbetter tracks the sources of this Socratic response by introducing separate readings of the poetics implicit in the poetry of Homer, Hesiod, and Pindar. Examining these poets' theories from a new angle that uncovers their literary, rhetorical, and political aims, she demonstrates their decisive influence on Socratic thinking about poetry.

The Socratic poetics Ledbetter elucidates focuses not on censorship, but on the interpretation of poetry as a source of moral wisdom. This philosophical approach to interpreting poetry stands at odds with the poets' own theories--and with the Sophists' treatment of poetry. Unlike the Republic's focus on exposing and banishing poetry's irrational and unavoidably corrupting influence, Socrates' theory includes poetry as subject matter for philosophical inquiry within an examined life.

Reaching back into what has too long been considered literary theory's prehistory, Ledbetter advances arguments that will redefine how classicists, philosophers, and literary theorists think about Plato's poetics.

Author / Editor information

Grace M. Ledbetter is Associate Professor of Classics and Philosophy at Swarthmore College.

Reviews

"This is an excellent book that should change the ways in which we approach Plato's views on art, especially literature. Ledbetter unearths many riches as she places Socrates, and by implication Plato, in the context of what poets and other literary figures have said about the nature of poetry. Her book is highly original and strikes out along a new path."—Julius M. Moravcsik, Stanford University

"Ledbetter's views are bold and brilliantly argued. Her book solves some of the most critical and controversial problems in early Greek poetics."—Jenny Strauss Clay, University of Virginia

Ledbetter's argument is original and will excite discussion.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Acknowledgments Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	ix
Abbreviations Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	xi
Introduction: Poetry, Knowledge, and Interpretation Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
Chapter One. Supernatural Knowledge in Homeric Poetics Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	9
Chapter Two. Hesiod’s Naturalism Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	40
Chapter Three. Pindar: The Poet as Interpreter Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	62
Chapter Four. Socratic Poetics Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	78
Chapter Five. Toward a Model of Socratic Interpretation Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	99
Bibliographic References Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	119
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	125

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