The Platonic And Aristotelian Literary Concepts Of The Particular And Universal

Abstract

The particular and the universal played a significant role in the history of Western critical theory, thanks to the distinction drawn by Plato and Aristotle. That distinction and its subsequent ramifications had been used, for centuries, as touchstones in the light of which literary productions were assessed. This paper discusses Platos and Aristotles understanding of the two concepts as they relate to the nature and function of art.