柏拉图“摹仿”概念新探——兼论“摹仿”作为“理式”的正途

A New Study on the Concept of Plato's “Mimesis”—Also on “Mimesis” As the Right Way to“Idea”

“摹仿”是柏拉图文艺思想中极为重要而又内涵丰富的一个概念,是西方文学理论体系中的核心概念。但是,学界多从直观感受加以阐释,从而造成了理解的偏差甚至误读。结合当时的历史文化语境,我们会发现柏拉图不仅保留了摹仿的原始意义,而且首次从理论形态上将其运用到绘画等视觉艺术领域,从而实现了摹仿的转义,丰富了摹仿的内涵,创立了对后世影响深远的艺术摹仿论。柏拉图虽然批判摹仿所创作艺术形象的虚假性,却又指出艺术摹仿可以通过联想和象征的方式激发、吸引并引导尘世的灵魂追求智慧与美本身。它是有限的人追寻“理式”的正途。

Imitation is a very important and rich concept in Plato's literary thought,and it is a core concept in the Western literary theory system.However,the academia mostly explains it from the intuitive feeling,which causes the deviation of understanding and even misreading.Combining the historical and cultural context at that time,we will find that Plato not only retained the original meaning of imitation,but also applied it to the visual arts such as painting for the first time theoretically,thus realizing the transformation of imitation and enriching the connotation of imitation.He founded the art imitation theory that has far-reaching influence on later generations.Although Plato criticized the falsity of the artistic images created by imitation,he also pointed out that artistic imitation can stimulate,attract and guide the earthly soul to pursue wisdom and beauty itself through association and symbolism.It is the right way for limited people to gain access to the“Idea”.