Empiricism and Idealism in Art PDF

Empiricism and Idealism in Art This section explains the main differences between Empiricism and Idealism, two important philosophies in art. It also explains how these philosophies relate to understanding art. Empiricism: Art Based on Experience Empiricism in art focuses on the idea that art comes...

Empiricism and Idealism in Art This section explains the main differences between Empiricism and Idealism, two important philosophies in art. It also explains how these philosophies relate to understanding art. Empiricism: Art Based on Experience Empiricism in art focuses on the idea that art comes from human experiences and emotions. ​ Instead of focusing on perfect ideals, it looks at how people actually experience and create art. ​ Observation is key in Empiricism. Artists observe the world around them and use those observations to create art. Pros of Empiricism: ​ Sensory-Based Approach: Empiricists rely on what they can see, hear, touch, taste, and smell. This makes their approach to art very grounded in the real world. Cons of Empiricism: ​ Limitations in Understanding Abstract Ideas: Because Empiricism relies so heavily on the senses, it can be difficult to use it to explain abstract or complex ideas in art. ​ Subjectivity of Observation: What one person observes might be different from what another person observes, meaning observations are not truly objective. Idealism: Art Based on Perfect Forms Idealism in art is about representing things in their most perfect and beautiful form. Think of it like trying to capture the essence of beauty itself. ​ It aims to show harmony, beauty, and perfection in art. Pros of Idealism: ​ Revealing Truth Through Aesthetics: Idealists believe that art can help us understand deep truths about nature and the world. They use beauty and symbolism to represent these truths. Con of Idealism: ​ Solipsism: Idealism can sometimes become too focused on the artist's own mind and ideas. This can make it hard to connect with other people's perspectives. Solipsism is the philosophical idea that only one's mind is sure to exist. Philosophers on Art and Taste This section will discuss the ideas of David Hume and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, two important philosophers who had interesting thoughts about art and what makes good taste. David Hume and Standards of Taste David Hume was a famous philosopher who believed strongly in empiricism. ​ He is well-known for his ideas about how we judge art, often referred to as "standards of taste." ​ He explored the differences between personal feelings about art (sentiment) and judgments about art based on reasons (judgment). Sentiment vs. Judgment: ​ Judgment: Judgments in art are based on facts and reasons. There can be right or wrong judgments, and people can argue about them. For example, judging if a painting uses proper perspective. ​ Sentiment: Sentiments are purely personal feelings. You can't argue with someone's feelings about a piece of art because they are subjective. For example, whether or not a piece of art makes you feel happy. Hume believed that taste falls under the category of sentiment. What Makes Good Taste? Hume believed that good taste is developed through: ​ Delicacy: Being able to notice subtle differences in art ​ Practice: Looking at and thinking about art a lot ​ Comparison: Comparing different works of art to see what makes them unique  ​ Absence of Prejudice: Being open-minded and not letting your biases influence your opinion ​ Strong Senses: Having good eyesight, hearing, etc. to fully experience art Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel and the Concept of Geist Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel had a very different view of art. ​ He believed in Geist, which means "mind" or "spirit" in German. ​ He thought that Geist is like a force that moves through history and reveals itself through art, religion, and philosophy. Hegel's View of Art: ​ Art shows the Geist in a way that everyone can understand. ​ Art changes and evolves over time, and as art forms evolve, the Geist becomes more and more clear. ​ Hegel believed art had a specific role: to reveal the truth that manifests the spirit. ​ He even ranked different types of art based on how well he thought they expressed the Geist. Types of Art According to Hegel: Hegel saw art evolving in stages, with each stage revealing the Geist more fully: ​ Symbolic Art: Early art forms that used symbols to represent ideas, like ancient Egyptian art. It sought a perfect unity of idea but struggled to achieve it. ​ Classical Art: Art that achieved a perfect balance between ideas and the materials used to create it, like ancient Greek sculptures. ​ Romantic Art: Art that goes beyond the physical world and focuses on expressing spiritual ideas. This is where Hegel saw art becoming most fully realized, as the idea transcends the physical limitations. Important Points About Hegel's Philosophy: ​ Evolution Toward an Ideal: Hegel believed that art was slowly evolving toward a perfect end, with Christian art being the highest form. ​ Hegel's Christian Influence: Hegel's own religious beliefs likely influenced his ideas about art. ​ Similarities to Plato: Hegel's ideas about perfect forms in art are similar to Plato's theory of Forms. Conclusion: Art as a Reflection of Ourselves and the World Both idealism and empiricism offer important ways to think about art. They encourage us to think about how we experience art, what makes good taste, and how art reflects the world around us. ​ Hume and Hegel's ideas are important because they show how our understanding of art has changed over time. ​ Their ideas were influenced by changes in society and the growing importance of art. ​ Art is constantly evolving, which leads to new ways of understanding beauty and how we interact with symbols. ​ Alice Guilermo emphasizes that art always changes and creates new meanings and values. ​ Dialectics: Hegel's focus on dialectics, the functional contradictions within society, underscores the evolving nature of art's role and interpretation in society. Overall, these philosophies help us appreciate the complexity and richness of art and its power to connect us to the world and ourselves.