Untimely Reflections #30: Weltgeist - Aesthetics of Schopenhauer & Nietzsche
Apr 16, 2024
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Exploring the aesthetics of Schopenhauer and Nietzsche, the influence of Schopenhauer on Wagner's music, the concept of Eros in Plato's Symposium, philosophy and art as luxuries of civilization, and Nietzsche's critique of the scientific worldview
Schopenhauer's aesthetic escape through art clashes with Nietzsche's emphasis on the vital connection between beauty and procreation, challenging traditional views on morality and artistic inspiration.
Nietzsche critiques Schopenhauer's suppression of sexual desires and hierarchical beauty, advocating for a holistic understanding of human creativity rooted in primal drives and desires.
Nietzsche unveils tensions between reason, desire, and artistic expression, advocating for the embracement of human passions and creative impulses to cultivate true virtues and authentic artistic experiences.
The alignment between artists and audiences in sharing emotional experiences through art fosters a sense of communal transcendence, bridging individual perspectives to create a collective aesthetic journey.
Deep dives
The Contest of Philosophy and Reason in Greek Culture
Nietzsche criticizes the Greek ideals adopted by Socrates and Plato which exalted reason as a universal truth beyond human creation. He argues that Socrates' method of philosophical inquiry and his adherence to abstract principles aimed to outsource values, contrasting the Greek zeal for competition and life. Nietzsche aims to challenge and surpass these traditional Greek values to rediscover human autonomy.
The Schopenhauerian View on Aesthetics and Beauty
Schopenhauer's aesthetic theories posit that art serves as an escape from the will, promoting a disinterested contemplation of beauty. However, Nietzsche points out the contradiction when Schopenhauer overlooks Plato's association of beauty with procreation. Nietzsche challenges Schopenhauer's negation of the will and the prioritization of chastity as virtues, suggesting a deeper connection between sexuality, beauty, and artistic inspiration.
The Supernatural in Art and Creativity
Nietzsche delves into the question of procreation and the root of virtues, examining the connection between sexuality and the creation of beauty. By critiquing Schopenhauer's suppression of sexual desires and the hierarchical view of beauty, Nietzsche prompts a reexamination of the base instincts underlying artistic inspiration. He questions the imposition of moralistic values on primal drives and argues for a holistic understanding of human creativity.
Philosophical Critiques and the Complexity of Desire
The philosophical critiques of Socrates, Schopenhauer, and the concept of beauty engaged by Nietzsche reveal underlying tensions between reason, desire, and artistic inspiration. Nietzsche unravels the suppression of passions and sexual instincts, suggesting that true virtues emerge from acknowledging and embracing the intertwined nature of desires and creative impulses. He navigates through the dualities of reason and passion, challenging traditional philosophical frameworks to unveil the complexities of human desires and artistic expression.
Schopenhauer's View on Art as a Spectator Experience
Schopenhauer emphasizes that the most memorable aesthetic experiences occur when individuals completely lose themselves in art, allowing them to forget their own troubles and immerse in the music, creating a sense of disembodied angel's wings. He believes that art is best appreciated when it enables the spectator to transcend their individuality and merge with the aesthetic experience.
Reconciling Nietzsche's Artist Perspective with Creation of Art
Nietzsche's focus on the artist's perspective in creating art resonates with those who seek to convey intense emotions and feelings through their artistic creations, such as conveying beautiful melancholy or fleeting beauty. Artists like Nietzsche aspire to evoke profound emotions in others, making them part of the creative process and sharing a communal experience through art.
Artistic Communion and Interpretation of Artistic Expression
The ideal artistic communion occurs when artists and audiences align, sharing the same emotional wavelength and losing themselves in the artistic experience. Artists aim to impart feelings through their creations, inviting viewers to immerse in emotional landscapes that are not their own, contributing to a shared transcendence through art.
A long-awaited conversation. We discuss: the aesthetics of Schopenhauer v/s Nietzsche, the Schopenhauerian influence on Wagner's music, The Pale Blue Dot, the Eros as discussed in Plato's Symposium, philosophy and art as luxuries of civilization, and what Nietzsche describes as the asceticism of the scientific worldview.
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