Final answer:
Philosophical perspectives on poets and the act of pretending are diverse. Sidney praised poets for creating new worlds, whereas Aristotle valued imitation in conveying universal truths. Plato was more cautious, warning against mistaking poetic imitations for reality.
Step-by-step explanation:
The views expressed by philosophical thinkers about poets and the act of pretending to be someone else are nuanced and multifaceted. For instance, Sir Philip Sidney, whom one might consider a philosopher-poet of the Elizabethan era, extolled poets for their ability to create new and beautiful worlds, implying that they do not overanalyze but rather illuminate reality through their creativity. Sidney strongly opposed the notion that poets wasted time, instead seeing their ability to affect people with their words as a unique and valuable skill. Additionally, Aristotle saw the importance of imitation in art and poetry as a reflection of reality, endorsing the process of a poet or actor taking on different personas to convey universal truths about the human experience. Both thinkers recognized the importance of poetry and dramatic imitation as vital to human understanding and emotion.
Plato, on the other hand, was often critical of poets in his philosophical discussions, as he found that the imitations created by poets could lead one away from the truth represented by his Theory of Ideal Forms. He suggested that poetry could potentially mislead rather than inform. However, this criticism is more about the potential of poetry to represent falsehoods, rather than a blanket dislike of imitation or a suggestion that poets overanalyze. In his view, the issue was not with poetry itself, but with the risk of mistaking imitations for reality.
Therefore, in considering the views of these influential thinkers, it can be assumed that while they appreciated the artistry of poets and understood the value of dramatic imitation as a way to express human thoughts and feelings, they held different views on the potential for poetry to either reveal or obscure the truth.