The concept of beauty in Plato and Aristotle

The place and purpose of art in human life is a subject frequently discussed in the history of philosophy. The main topic of this discussion, as old as the history of humanity, is the concept of "beauty." Our definitions of beauty and our references to beauty shape our mental constructs and life choices. In this study, the approaches of two great philosophers, Plato and Aristotle, to the concept of beauty, which have deeply influenced the philosophy of art from Ancient Greece to the present day, are examined, and the similarities and differences in their perspectives are highlighted. To understand the concept of "beauty" in Plato and Aristotle, the approaches of both philosophers to art and artistic activities were first examined. It should be remembered that the views of these two philosophers on art are not independent of their philosophies of existence. Therefore, this study first thoroughly addresses the ontological and epistemological views of both philosophers. To obtain a holistic perspective, the study briefly touches on Ancient Greek philosophy, from which Plato and Aristotle's thoughts were nourished. Finally, to reach a conclusion, it examines which types of activities Plato and Aristotle included within the scope of art and how they evaluated these artistic activities within the framework of mimesis (imitation).