The Analysis Of The Imitation Problem In Plato’s Works

Imitation is a very important concept in Plato’s works, and it is related to the discussion in different chapters. What is the relationship among these statements? What is the different among these statements of imitation? This paper keep an eye on the problem of imitation in the early、mid and late works respectively as "Politeia,""Parmenides""Timaeus", regarding the imitation as the main line, trying to have a more comprehensive study and analysis of the idea/form theory.This paper is divided into four parts. The first three parts aim at analyzing the concept of imitation in these three dialogues and the latter part aim at the comprehensive understanding of the problem of imitation. In the first three sections, the imitation in " Politeia " is the primer, which will give a brief introduction of the imitation problem. That is:the object of imitation is "the same one"---idea/form;due to the separation of idea/form and specific things, imitation is possible and because our souls are pre-rational type, we can remember what it is by soul memories even if we forget that after birth. In the "Parmenides", the problem of imitation is criticized because of the problems as dirty things’idea/form and "infinity back ".What is more, it causes a more serious problem as agnosticism. Here, imitation seems to come to an end. scholars have different opinions about it. This paper aims to give a conclusion that Plato did not give up" separation", which we can learn from the imitation revisit in his late work "Timaeus." At the end of the study of "Timaeus", this paper will give a conclusion that the main concept of the three dialogues are idea/form theory, separation and God. Although the concepts are different in different periods, it has a relationship among them. The reason why Plato did not give up separation and imitation is that he has a survival attention---"everyone run after good".