what are Plato's Achievement His Contributions ?
The value of Plato's criticism and his originality may be summarised as follows:
1-"In his works, appeara for the first time the conception of nemesis or imitation as the essential characteristic of all art . Further, he divides the arts into two (a) the fine arts, and (b) the useful arts, as, for example, medicine, agriculture, etc.
2-Such imitation he associated with poetry of the highest kind a process which repre-sented things as they ought to be, and not in their actuality.
3- Similarly, he makes significant advance in his views on "inspiration" when he regards it as an ecstatic power, a form of spiritual exaltation which sends the soul in quest of ideal beaut. It liberates the soul from the bondage of custom and convention, and carries man nearer to truth.
4-poetry is inspiration, but is is also an art, and he breaks new grounds in laying down basic principles for its practice as an art.(a) the artist must take thought, i e. he must select and organise his material.(b) He must have knowledge of the rules & techniques of his art.(c) Study, exercise and learning are essential. Thus the arts can be taught.
5-he emphasises, for the first time, that organic unity is essential for success in all arts.
6-he accepts the traditional pity' and fear" as the emotions traged
7- as regards the function of poetry, he is definitely of the View giving of t f human character, the bringing out of the best that latent in the human soul .
8-He lays down high standards for literary criticism. A critic must have courage, knowledge and wisdom, he must lead the many, and be not led by them.tastes of the general public cannot determine literary standards .