Weitz and the Role of Theory in Aesthetics In the past‚ the main goal of aesthetics has been to formulate a definition of art. A definition is a statement of the necessary and sufficient properties of what is being defined. This statement has to prove its purpose of giving a true or false claim about the nature‚ or essence of art and what characterizes it from anything else. Many theorists sustain that unless we know what art is‚ we cannot begin to respond to it adequately or to say
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Sianne Ngai’s explanation of the contemporary aesthetic category of the cute reveals the darker side of human nature‚ accurately explaining that what people find cute is what can be violently destroyed—that which we have power over is cute. Animals‚ especially younger animals‚ possess a vulnerability that arouses a sort of destructive impulse in people: they often say they could devour or cuddle to death subjects they find innately cute. Cuteness is everywhere in children’s literature‚ but it makes
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Apology‚ in greek‚ means ‘to give defense’ (###). In Plato’s Apology‚ Socrates is blamed for numerous acts and elegantly defends himself in front of the court. To start off‚ he was first accused of studying astrology and demonology and passing his knowledge and beliefs to other people. His first response to this was blatantly asking who has heard him speaking of such acts: “…should tell each other if anyone of you has ever heard me discussing such subjects to any extent at all” (19d). He also claims
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Contributions It is believed that Plato‚ a student of Socrates‚ was one of the greatest contributors of philosophy. Proof of Plato ’s notoriety in the world of philosophy can be clearly seen with his dialogues and his renowned student Aristotle. Plato’s writings are in the form of dialogues‚ with Socrates as the principal speaker. With his theory of Forms‚ he had discussed a wide range of metaphysical and ethical questions while finding inherent connections between the two. Plato also considered epistemological
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question. "As his position takes form in the Republic‚ Plato claims that only a very few individuals are capable of understanding how human life is to be lived. If it could be done‚ the rest of us would be best off it we were to let out lives be controlled by such individuals". This position held by Plato has been one of much discussion and disagreement over the years. In this paper I will attempt to give my own insight and stand on Plato ’s position and will evaluate his position as it emerges throughout
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1. When looking at the differences between cultural‚ natural‚ and truly aesthetic objects‚ it’s relatively easy to define each in their own ways. Cultural objects differ from natural objects in the sense that cultural objects have been placed in an artistic manner by‚ and for the human population‚ whereas natural objects are in the most basic term‚ objects placed by nature for no other external reason. For instance‚ a bed of rocks laying among a path‚ strewn out for an artistic affect is considered
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The introduction of Donald J. Funes’ book Musical Involvement addresses the topic of music as an aesthetic experience. The preface to the introduction is the realization that truly listening to music requires an active response‚ and this type of listening is not innate. All throughout the day we are bombarded with music and every day sounds‚ most of which remain in our periphery. It can be difficult to focus on a single event such as a concert‚ lecture or any other situation that requires a quite
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Character Sketch - Cephalus from Plato’ s Republic Choose one of the three main characters from Book One of Plato’s Republic (Cephalus‚ Polemarchus or Thrasymachus). Write a character sketch that shows how the personality‚ social status‚ life situation and position affect the views the character holds about life and about the virtue of justice. Include the definition of justice for the character you are describing. In book one‚ we are introduced to four main characters: Socrates‚ Cephalus
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over the function of poetry are shown in The Republic by Plato and in The Defense of Poesy by Sir Philip Sidney. These two pieces describe the critics’ opinion over what poetry should be. Even though Plato and Sidney had different‚ as well as some similar‚ views concerning the purpose and use of poetry‚ these views were all based on the culture and society in which they were surrounded‚ as well as the time period in which they lived. Plato and Sidney were two very distinct men who each lived in
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Plato and Socrates Classical Greece in the 4th and 5th centuries BC was a period in which some of history’s greatest philosophers lived. The relationship between Plato‚ and his mentor Socrates was‚ for Plato‚ one of reverence. Plato viewed his teacher as an inspiration and as a philosophical model to emulate. Plato was a student of Socrates. Plato is the main eye-witness source for the life of Socrates and we know from his account of Socrates’ trial that Plato was a student at the time. Socrates
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