.Explaining Aristotle's conception of '
Katharsis' Diaches has remarkedin his book, CRITICAL APPROACHES TO
LITERATURE: One can fairly maintainthat a whole view of the
value of imaginative literature is implicit inAristotle's discussion of the relation between poetry and history and the nature ofliterary probability. But he is not content with answering Plato'scontention that art is but an imitation of an imitation, that removesfrom truth; he wishes also to answer specifically Plato's notion thatart corrupts by nourishing the
passions. His reply to this charge issimple and remarkable. Far from nourishing the passions, he asserts, itgives them harmless or even useful
purgation ; by exciting pity andfear in us,
tragedy enables us to leave the theatre ' in calm of mind,all passion spent'. There is considerable disagreement among scholars and critics over what Aristotle really meant by katharsis, purgation, but it seems clear that he was claiming some kind oftherapeutic value of tragedy. A tragedy not only communicates its ownspecial insight but it also provides a safe outlet for disturbingpassions which it
effectively siphons off. Tragedy gives new knoeledge,yields aesthetic satisfaction, and produces a better state of mind.This triumvirate of values effectively disposes of Plato's attack.
More summaries about the Poetics [KATHARSIS]