Mimesis as an explanatory principle in psychology and aesthetics

Abstract

The heuristic opportunities of the aesthetics principle of mimesis in psychological research practice are analyzed in the paper. Various art concepts of mimesis from ancient to modern times are discussed. The ways in which the imitation is used in social psychology are considered. The definition of mimesis as the construction of social representations and narrative identity is formulated. Based on comparative analysis of different concepts of mimesis in aesthetics and psychology the following thesis is formulated: mimesis is not only the imitation of reality but also the adoption and reproduction of reality in the symbolic world within the human mind. It is substantiated that the principle of non-sensual mimesis (based on W. Benjamin's understanding) is the solution of the problem of the world representation in social cognition and its mediation by language.