MORALITY, SIMULACRUM AND DISTRACTION: THE FUNCTION OF ART ACCORDING TO ROUSSEAU

N. 15 (2013) • Artefilosofia

Autor: João Gabriel Lima

Resumo:

Jean-Jacques Rousseau was undoubtedly the first to investigate the ethical role of art in modern philosophical thought. However, his position was decidedly eccentric amidst the backdrop of the Enlightenment. According to Rousseau, Art was responsible for the destruction of virtue, but is responsible now for concocting a moral veneer. Art’s function is to construct this “moral veneer” that brings a stop to man’s turpitudes or, at least, reduces their occurrence. Art’s ethical benefit is not that it leads man to do good. Rather, the artistic simulacrum prevents the most hideous crimes from occurring. This paper investigates the ethical role of art in Rousseau's First Discourse and in the preface to his play Narcissus or the Self-Admirer.

ISSN: 2526-7892

Texto Completo: https://periodicos.ufop.br/pp/index.php/raf/article/view/536/492

Artefilosofia

ARTEFILOSOFIA é uma revista com avaliação por pares que publica material inédito de Teoria da Arte, Estética e Filosofia da Arte nos idiomas: português, inglês, francês, italiano e espanhol. É política da ARTEFILOSOFIA encorajar a publicação pelos pesquisadores no início de suas carreiras (estudantes de doutorado, por exemplo), bem como por pesquisadores estabelecidos.

ARTEFILOSOFIA is a peer-reviewed journal publishing original work of Art Theory, Aesthetics and Art Philosophy in Portuguese, English, French, Italian and Spanish. It is the policy of ARTEFILOSOFIA to encourage publication by researchers at the beginning of their careers (PhD students, for example) as well as by established scholars.

Revista de Estética e Filosofia da Arte do Programa de Pós-graduação em Filosofia - UFOP

Journal of Aesthetic and Philosophy of Art. Graduation Program on Philosophy – UFOP