The Relation of Art and Society According to Plato, Rousseau and Benjamin Walter
Course: Philosophy and the Arts
Prof. Eli Friedlander
Final Exam
Margarita Belova
964010565
otterloutre25@yahoo.com
The relation of art and society according to Plato, Rousseau and Benjamin The relation between art and society is very complex and might be seen from the various perspectives. The main concern, however, has always been the one of the function of arts within the society – that is to say, what people need the arts for. Of course, this theme was challenged by many philosophers of different ages, who tried to criticize or to praise arts as something that, consequently, corrupts our minds or sets them free and brings pleasure. Plato has written his book The Republic, where Socrates and other philosophers tried to as well construct the concept of an ideal state, just city, or ideal society, where there would be three main classes of people, and where art, for some reasons that I will discuss, has no place. Jean-Jacques Rousseau has developed a similar conception in his Social Contract theory, where he described the society, in which individuals should all be set in their right place, so to speak; whereas, in his texts like, for instance, The letter to D'Alembert on the Theater, Rousseau argues that the artificial arts such as theatre, for example, should be replaced by the more natural entertainments like festivals or sports, where even the spectators could engage. Walter Benjamin as well addresses the arts and their function in the modern society, however, Benjamin stresses already the other side of this relation. His main concern is that people in the modern society have impoverished in terms of culture, because they do not appreciate the history, they do not appreciate the experience that is given to them by the previous generations, they do not appreciate the authenticity of the works of art, and therefore, the value of arts decreases. He insists that in order for the society to exist in harmony, people
Prof. Eli Friedlander
Final Exam
Margarita Belova
964010565
otterloutre25@yahoo.com
The relation of art and society according to Plato, Rousseau and Benjamin The relation between art and society is very complex and might be seen from the various perspectives. The main concern, however, has always been the one of the function of arts within the society – that is to say, what people need the arts for. Of course, this theme was challenged by many philosophers of different ages, who tried to criticize or to praise arts as something that, consequently, corrupts our minds or sets them free and brings pleasure. Plato has written his book The Republic, where Socrates and other philosophers tried to as well construct the concept of an ideal state, just city, or ideal society, where there would be three main classes of people, and where art, for some reasons that I will discuss, has no place. Jean-Jacques Rousseau has developed a similar conception in his Social Contract theory, where he described the society, in which individuals should all be set in their right place, so to speak; whereas, in his texts like, for instance, The letter to D'Alembert on the Theater, Rousseau argues that the artificial arts such as theatre, for example, should be replaced by the more natural entertainments like festivals or sports, where even the spectators could engage. Walter Benjamin as well addresses the arts and their function in the modern society, however, Benjamin stresses already the other side of this relation. His main concern is that people in the modern society have impoverished in terms of culture, because they do not appreciate the history, they do not appreciate the experience that is given to them by the previous generations, they do not appreciate the authenticity of the works of art, and therefore, the value of arts decreases. He insists that in order for the society to exist in harmony, people