In Defense of Humanism Value in the Arts and Letters [Paperback]

A powerful argument for value in arts in response to the contemporary critique of humanism.In simple, clear language, this work articulates the nature of aesthetic experience through analysis of works in a wide variety of media, including painting, sculpture, architecture, drawing, literature, and dance. It reaffirms the transcendent moral and enduring qualities in great works of art.In simple, clear language, this work articulates the nature of aesthetic experience through analysis of works in a wide variety of media, including painting, sculpture, architecture, drawing, literature, and dance. It reaffirms the transcendent moral and enduring qualities in great works of art.In Defense of Humanism: Value in the Arts and Letters is a response to the critique of traditional humanism. In simple, clear language, Richard Etlin articulates the nature of aesthetic experience through analysis of works in a wide variety of media, including painting, sculpture, architecture, drawing, literature, and dance. Establishing categories for determining value in the arts and letters, Etlin also explores the operations of the creative process in a discussion of artistic genius, reaffirming the transcendent moral and enduring qualities in great works of art.Part I. Defining value: 1. Aesthetic value; 2. Creativity and Genius; Part II. Defending value: 3. Pascal's reason; 4. Nietzsche's error; Postscript: the parameters of culture; Index. This book is marked by a refreshing clarity of style and a remarkably wide range of reference. Choice In Defense of Humanism is a cool, clear breeze blowing some fairly foul-smelling fog from the corridors of the academy. In scholarly fields marked by obscurity, conformity, and eagerness not to offend, Etlin is willing to walk straight in, speak plainly, and raise the right issues. This is a wonderfully offensive book. Denis Dutton, Philosophy and Literature