On Poetry - Classic Text | Alexandria
On Poetry (Περὶ ποιητικῆς) by Democritus stands as one of antiquity's most intriguing yet largely lost works on literary theory and poetic composition, written by the pre-Socratic philosopher Democritus of Abdera (c. 460-370 BCE). This treatise, known primarily through fragmentary references and citations by later authors, represents one of the earliest systematic attempts to analyze the nature of poetic creation and divine inspiration in Western literary criticism.
The work's earliest known mentions appear in ancient catalogues of Democritus's writings, notably in Diogenes Laërtius's Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (3rd century CE), where it is listed among Democritus's works on music and literature. The historical context of its composition coincides with the height of Classical Greek cultural achievement, during a period when philosophical inquiry into artistic creation was beginning to emerge as a distinct field of study.
Particularly fascinating is Democritus's apparent assertion, preserved through later sources, that poetry written with "divine inspiration and sacred spirit" (ἐνθουσιασμοῦ καὶ ἱεροῦ πνεύματος) represents the highest form of poetic achievement. This view seems to stand in intriguing tension with his materialistic atomic theory, suggesting a complex relationship between rationalistic philosophy and artistic creation in his thought. The text appears to have influenced later ancient literary criticism, with echoes appearing in Horace's Ars Poetica and Longinus's On the Sublime.
Though the original work is lost, its influence persists in contemporary discussions of poetic inspiration and creative processes. Modern scholars continue to debate the relationship between Democritus's scientific materialism and his views on artistic creation, making On Poetry a compelling example of the intricate connections between ancient philosophy, literary theory, and artistic practice. The work's fragmentary nature and theoretical sophistication raise profound questions about the historical development of literary criticism and the eternal mystery of poetic inspiration.