The Contemporary Reading of Schiller and Aestheticization as a New Enlightenment
Abstract
In his book Aestheticization as a Second Enlightenment (2012) the literary and cultural theorist Jürgen Peper understands culture as a “designed and experienced idea of the truth” rather than the progress of civilization. According to Peper, Aestheticization is “the epistemological-critical questioning of the classical ideas of truth” that during the 19th and 20th century led to the new Enlightenment. Examining the key issue of the 18th century, the question of freedom, Friedrich Schiller considers both aspects of the problem of Aestheticization – the sentimental artist with his epistemological-critical stance and the consumer of art that could be educated only within the aesthetic activity. The core of Schiller's theory is that only the emancipation of the human spirit can lead man to his moral perfection and a harmonious society. Schiller's elitist anticipation of the development of European history and society reverberates in Peper's theory, confirmed through the empirical analysis of literary and philosophical works as well as works of art from 19th and 20th century. Peper demonstrates how aestheticization, as a process of individualizing particularization, contributed significantly to the history of the development of the individual and thus the history of democratization.”
Keywords: aestheticization, aesthetic activity, Enlightenment, individuality, democratization.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Declaration/Copyright transfer:
1. In consideration of the undertaking set out in paragraph 2, and upon acceptance by ANGLISTICUM for publication of the manuscript in the Journal, I/We hereby assign and transfer publication rights to ANGLISTICUM, whereas I/We retain the copyright for the manuscript. This assignment provides ANGLISTICUM the sole right and responsibility to publish the manuscript in its printed and online version, and/or in other media formats.
2. In consideration of this assignment, ANGLISTICUM hereby undertakes to prepare and publish the manuscript in the Journal, subject only to its right to refuse publication if there is a breach of the Author’s warranty in paragraph 4 or if there are other reasonable grounds.
3. Editors and the editorial board of ANGLISTICUM are empowered to make such editorial changes as may be necessary to make the Manuscript suitable for publication.
4. I/We hereby acknowledge that: (a) The manuscript submitted is an original work and that I/We participated in the work substantively and thus I/We hereby are prepared to take public responsibility for the work; (b) I/We hereby have seen and approved the manuscript as submitted and that the manuscript has not either been published, submitted or considered for publication elsewhere; (c) The text, illustration, and any other materials included in the manuscript do not infringe upon any existing copyright or other rights of anyone.
5. I/We hereby indemnify ANGLISTICUM and the respective Editors of the Journal as mentioned in paragraph 3, and hold them harmless from any loss, expense or damage occasioned by a claim or suit by a third party for copyright infringement, or any suit arising out of any breach of the foregoing warranties as a result of publication of the manuscript.