Mimesis and understanding: an interpretation of Aristotle's \+i\Poetics \-i\ 4.1448B4-19

Speaking of the natural instinct of mimesis, Aristotle stresses from the outset that this constitutes man's distinctive feature, which sets him apart from all other species: man is since early childhood the mimetic being par excellence, and he develops his earliest understanding through mimesis. Argues that Aristotle not only regards the phenomenon of mimesis as being innate to human kind, but he also ascribes cognitive characteristics even to the simplest forms of mimesis. He rejects, in other words, Plato's views on art, and the idea of divine inspiration in art. The elementary cognitive process is the one that offers pleasure. (Quotes from original text)