Letters Upon The Aesthetic Education Of Man

By Friedrich Schiller

Book Overview

Letters Upon The Aesthetic Education Of Man is a philosophical treatise by German poet, playwright, and philosopher Friedrich von Schiller. Originally published in 1795, the book is a series of letters written by Schiller to a friend, discussing the importance of aesthetic education in shaping and developing the human spirit.The book argues that aesthetic experiences, such as art, music, and literature, are essential to human development and can help individuals transcend their physical limitations and reach a higher level of consciousness. Schiller believes that through aesthetic education, individuals can learn to appreciate beauty and cultivate their inner selves, leading to a more harmonious and fulfilling life.Throughout the book, Schiller explores various aspects of aesthetic education, including the relationship between beauty and morality, the role of imagination in shaping human experience, and the importance of balancing reason and emotion. He also discusses the impact of social and political forces on the development of aesthetic culture, and the ways in which art can be used to promote social change.Letters Upon The Aesthetic Education Of Man is considered a foundational work in the field of aesthetics and has had a significant influence on subsequent philosophical and artistic movements. It is a thought-provoking and insightful exploration of the nature of human experience and the role of beauty in shaping our lives.When the mechanical artist places his hand on the formless block, to give it a form according to his intention, he has not any scruples in doing violence to it. For the nature on which he works does not deserve any respect in itself, and he does not value the whole for its parts, but the parts on account of the whole.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1161439420
• ISBN13: 9781161439427
• Release Date: May 2010
• Publisher: Kessinger Publishing
• Length: 74 Pages
• Weight: 0.78 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 7.0" x 10.0"

Customer Reviews

A Classic!

Ok here's a little pop culture bit to sweeten the mighty load of Friedrich Schiller: The intellectuals of this period, inspired and defined by Goethe's seminal teen-angst classic The Sorrows of Young Werther. Werther's style is still seen today in the goth subculture- moopy, depressed, poetic, etc. Basically that's a combination of Anglo Byronic romanticism and German romanticism. One of the main symbols of the Werther/Schiller era of German Romanticism is the blue flower of Novalis. (Wiki) I see Schiller as being the actual embodiment of the Werther character, particularly after finishing the Aesthetic Educations of Man, a book I've now read three different times (undergraduate, law school, last month.) That's probably because I see this book as kind of the birth of Romantic Pop Culture. Basically, Schiller took Kantian idealism and crossed it with a popular format (i.e. they're written as "letters") Unlike Kant, you can actually read Schiller, since this book is only 140 pages long. The reason this book is still relevant is that Kantian idealism underlays most popular manifestations of Romanticism, but most people who consider themselves "Romantics" literally have no idea what Kantian idealism means. Myself included. Thus, by reading this one 140 page book, you can kind of get a handle on the relationship, and gain a better understanding of artists who are influenced by this time period. Like Depeche Mode... or, for a more hipster specific reference, Dr. Octagon's classic Blue Flowers. Cue lyrics: Look at the land... Blue Flowers! Drawing by the purple pond, in the purple pastures Blue Flowers! Drawing by the purple pond, yellow ink that flows Blue Flowers Romanticism runs strong and deep in all of the Western nations. It is, in fact, the primary ideology for people dissatisfied with reality Just think about the prevalence of the "lonely hero." It's also the primary posture of artists of all stripes. The more "popular" the art, the more romantic it is likely to be. Romanticism is both current and 400+ years old. Thus, contemporary artists can manipulate the audience by being more aware of the symbols and modes of thought of something like Romanticism, since the listener WILL respond: Think of all the people wearing Depeche Mode T-Shirts with Blue Flowers and Tour Dates printed on the back. That's pure, unadulterated, 18th century German Romanticism. The modern artist is inevitably an interpreter/re-interpreter of symbols with long-standing cultural resonance.

Excellent edition of an excellent work.

Writing in the 1790s, Schiller united the rigorous epistemology of Kant and Fichte with Plato's dynamic account of the development of the soul to produce one of the most beautiful works of philosophy in the European tradition. The Letters on Aesthetic Education offer an interpretation of the development of the individual and the parallel development of Western civilization. These interpretations focus on the conditions that allow for mental health in a human individual and society, and especially demonstrate (as the title indicates) the crucial role of artistic experience in healthy human development. This is a great work, and a great introduction to the other German philosophers of the 19th Century (Hegel, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, et al). This edition is very good: the translation is good, and it has a facing German text. Highly recommended.