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The Esthetic Letters

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Freedom and Dignity

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Abstract

For a correct assessment of Über die ästhetische Erziehung des Menschen in einer Reihe von Briefen, it is necessary to abandon the modern conception of “esthetic.” The idea of beauty as a joy-for-ever, and of art for art’s sake has had a detrimental effect on the proper evaluation of Schiller’s esthetic theories. Esthetic, for Schiller, meant reconciliation, unity. It presented, as we shall see, a synthesis suspending the polarity of the sensate and the intelligent forces in man’s mind.

Der spielende Mensch hält der Freiheit stand; er sichert sie, er verleiht ihr Dauer. Gustav Bally

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References

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  1. Deric Regin
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© 1965 Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, Netherlands

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Regin, D. (1965). The Esthetic Letters. In: Freedom and Dignity. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-9097-8_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-9097-8_10

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