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Aesthetic Theories in Classical Antiquity. Introduction. An Elementary Conceptual Division. Aesthetics (beauty in general) Philosophy of art (art and the arts) Criticism (artworks). Main phases. Aesthetics Beauty is an objective quality (antiquity)
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Aesthetic Theories in Classical Antiquity Introduction
An Elementary Conceptual Division • Aesthetics (beauty in general) • Philosophy of art (art and the arts) • Criticism (artworks)
Main phases • Aesthetics • Beauty is an objective quality (antiquity) • Beauty is something subjective (modernity) • Philosophy of art • Art as imitation (intellectual theory) • Art as expression (emotional theory)
Antiquity and Middle Ages • Plato (424-347) • Aristotle (384-322) • Plotinus (305-270) • Augustine (354-430) • Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
17th-19th centuries • Lord Shaftesbury • Hutchinson • Hume • Kant • Hegel • Schopenhauer • Nietzsche
20th Century • Croce • Collingwood • Benjamin • Weitz • Danto • Dickie
Kristeller • The Modern System of the Fine Arts dates from around 1750 • Poetry • Painting • Sculpture • Architecture • Music
Antiquity • Beauty • Concept of beauty more general than now • Relation between beauty and morality • Idea of beauty not related to the arts • Art • Art as techne • Relation between art and craft
Relations between the arts • Poetry is the noblest art • Poetry and inspiration • Comparison between poetry and painting • The fine arts do not constitute a separate class even though Plato and Aristotle distinguish them from utilitarian craft: • Idea of imitation (mimesis) • They differ on the value of imitation
The Seven Liberal Arts • Grammar • Rhetoric • Logic • Arithmetic • Geometry • Astronomy • Music • (Architecture and Medicine)
The Nine Muses 1. Calliope – Epic 2. Clio – History 3. Erato – Lyric poetry 4. Euterpe – Flute playing 5. Melpomene – Tragedy 6. Polymnia – Hymns 7. Terpsichore – Dance and Choirs 8. Thalia – Comedy 9. Urania – Astronomy
Conclusion about Antiquity • No consequent aesthetic system of the arts • Aesthetic values among moral, religious and utilitarian values • Arts among sciences and crafts • But one can observe certain criteria of beauty • Chroma kai symmetria: (bright) colour and(symmetrical) proportion
Late Antiquity & Middle Ages • The seven liberal arts constitute the framework • Trivium • Quadrivium • The fine arts are scattered between systems • Poetry and music among the liberal arts • Visual arts among the crafts
The seven mechanical arts • Weaving • Arms-making • Navigation • Agriculture • Hunting • Medicine • Theatrics
Art and artist • Art = Knowledge of a craft or a science • Artist = Craftsman or student • Yet: Thomas Aquinas discusses aesthetic values: Integritas (unity), consonantia (harmony), claritas (brightness)