Valuable aesthetic leisure in aristotle’s poetics

Abstract

Based on an analysis of Poetics and particularly on the understanding of aesthetic experience as a mental activity, this article focuses on valuable aesthetic leisure in Aristotle’s work. The ethical aspect is highlighted, enhancing its value in the development of mankind as in the poet’s work of art, embodying the facts in the plot and giving them the appropriate universal scope. Although Aristotle refers to tragedy, this evaluation can, by extension, provide an interpretation of the aesthetic leisure experience. The autonomous framework for the aesthetic realm, which Aristotle initiated, its role linked to the ethical aspect, intellectual understanding and aesthetic pleasure provide the basis to argue that aesthetic leisure can be confirmed as a path to reach what is valuable and appropriate to lead the life that man should aspire to.