A Study On Hegel's Thesis Of The“End Of Art”

Hegel's thesis of the "end of art" not only has a profound influence in the history of western aesthetics,but also has a significant position in the history of western philosophy.At present,Hegel' s thesis is still one of the key topics discussed in these two fields.Hegel held that "the beautiful is characterized as the pure appearance of the Idea to sense".He acknowledged that art was a way for spirit to gain its self-knowledge,art had truth,and art expressed the freedom of spirit.Meanwhile,Hegel has put forward the "end of art" thesis.He claimed that when spirit reached its highest stage,art was "past".Philosophy in the form of the speculative concepts sublated the intuitive images of art and became the highest way to reveal the truth.Thus,it can be seen that,there seems to be contradiction between Hegel's thesis of the "end of art" and his claim of the truth of art.It also reflects the tension between art and philosophy.Hegel's aesthetics is the philosophy of art.The connotations of the "end of art" thesis and the nature of its problems not only need to be discussed from the perspective of art,but also understood from the perspective of philosophy.In turn,this discussion and understanding can also help elucidate Hegel's philosophical problems,and deepen the understanding of the relationship between art and philosophy,thus easing the tension between art and philosophy.This paper consists of seven chapters.Taking the problem of historicity,the problem of subjectivity and the problem of linguisticality as the approach respectively,this paper discusses the connotations of the "end of art",thesis and the nature of its related problems from three aspects:"the past of the classical art" "the disintegration of the romantic art" and "the end of poetry".Through this discussion,the paper aims to elucidate the truthfulness of art,to expound the value and significance of art and to ease the tension between art and philosophy.By studying the "end of art" thesis,this paper holds that not only the combination of art and philosophy is of great value for understanding the nature and significance of art,but also art and philosophy as a whole is of great importance for exploring human cognition and existential experience.The first chapter is the introduction.Aiming at the "end of art" thesis,this chapter first raises the problems to be studied,that are,the truthfulness of art and the relationship between art and philosophy.The theoretical and the practical significances of the study are also pointed out.Then,based on the existing research at home and abroad,this chapter analyzes the controversies over the different perspectives on the study of the "cend of art" thesis,over"whether the classical art is past" "whether the modern art ends" and "the relationship between art and philosophy".From these aspects,this chapter further leads to the importance of the truthfulness of the classical art,the legitimacy of the modern art,the value of poetry and the relationship between art and philosophy,which are to be explored in the paper.Finally,this chapter puts forward the research approach and the research method.The second chapter analyzes the aesthetic background and the connotations of the "end of art" thesis.The analysis in this chapter lay the foundation for further discussing the truthfulness of art and the relationship between art and philosophy.To begin with,Hegel's thesis of the "end of art" is directly related to the background of his aesthetic thoughts.Hegel' s aesthetic thoughts were developed in the context of the empiricist aesthetics and the rationalist aesthetics,Kant's aesthetics,and the dispute between classicism and romanticism in modern times.Hegel's aesthetics is dedicated to reconciling the opposition between sensibility and reason,emphasizing the scientific nature of artistic research,and affirming the truthfulness of art.The dispute between classicism and romanticism has influenced his views on the differences between the ancient art and the modern art,which are also the basis for dividing the different connotations of the "end of art",thesis.Next,the connotations of Hegel's thesis of the "end of art" can be revealed from three aspects:"the past of the classical art" "the disintegration of the romantic art",and "the end of poetry".The nature and significance of these three aspects can be combined with the problem of historicity,the problem of subjectivity and the problem of linguisticality respectively.The third chapter elucidates the truthfulness of the classical art in the problem domain of historicity.This chapter relates "the past of the classical art" to the problem of historicity,and discusses Hegel's attitude on tradition and history and the contemporary value of the classical art as tradition and historical existence.First of all,Hegel has a dual attitude towards tradition and history.He acknowledges the unity of tradition and Enlightenment and the unity of history and reason,but he also sublates the historical existence with reason and spirit.Next,as spiritual tradition,the classical art is not valued in the modernist art.As historical existence,the classical art also has a tendency to be rationalized and conceptualized.At last,the truthfulness of the classical art as tradition is embodied in its exemplarity.The classical art is the unity of content and form,substance and subjectivity,and universality and individuality.It expresses the free spirit of the artist.The Classical is also a model concept.The truthfulness of the classical art as historical existence is embodied in the form of beauty.The beauty of the classical art is truth.The appearance of beauty is the occurrence of truth.Beauty is both a form of understanding and a process of existence.Moreover,the classical art reveals the historicity of truth.Historicity and truthfulness are united in the classical art.Accordingly,this chapter affirms its contemporary value and at the same time eases the tension between art and philosophy.The fourth chapter discusses the legitimacy of the modern art in the problem domain of subjectivity.This chapter relates "the disintegration of the romantic art" to the problem of subjectivity,analyzes Hegel's criticism and response to the problem of modern subjectivity,and discusses the significance of the modern art.First of all,the main problem of modern subjectivity is how to unify the subject and the object.Hegel devotes himself to solving the problem of modern subjectivity in a philosophical way through the development of German idealist philosophy,through the criticism of the modern subjective and reflective consciousness and by expounding the rational principles and the connotations of the spiritual subject.Next,Hegel responds to the problem of modern subjectivity in an artistic way through criticizing the reflective,subjective and individual principles of the romantic art and emphasizing the reconciliation of the spiritual universality and individuality in his aesthetics.Finally,faced with the modern spiritual dilemmas,art reveals the whole truth,contributes to realizing the spiritual freedom,and promotes the unity of the subject and the world.Hegel's reflection and criticism of modern subjectivity from the perspectives of philosophy and art further develop it and respond to its problems.Therefore,this chapter affirms the positive role of modern art in solving the problem of modern subjectivity.Meanwhile,it shows that art and philosophy do not constitute an antagonistic relationship in responding to the problem of modern subjectivity.The fifth chapter explores the revelation of the existential experience by poetry in the problem domain of linguisticality.This chapter relates "the end of poetry" to the problem of linguisticality and expounds the nature of Hegel's thought on language and the significance of language to our cognition and existence.To begin with,Hegel's conceptual language makes language and things,language and reason,as well as self and the world united,thereby helping to solve the problems of linguistic instrumentalism and semiotics,which are influenced by the modern intellectual thinking.It can also respond to the questioning from the ontology of language.Next,in solving the problem of the modern subject-object dichotomy,the conceptual language of philosophy and the poetic-and representational language of art do not constitute an antagonistic relationship.Poetic language is speculative,emphasizing the unity of universality and particularity.At the same time,poetic language is creative,which is also a necessary condition for the development of philosophical concepts.Finally,poetic language can create truth,open up existence,and resist the concealment of existence caused by the modern intellectual thinking.Moreover,poetic language has the projective character,which contributes to the realization of human freedom and the liberation of spirit.Accordingly,this chapter affirms the function of revealing the existential experience by poetic language.Meanwhile,it shows that in responding to the problems caused by the modern intellectual thinking,art and philosophy work side by side and are interdependent.The sixth chapter explains the contemporary significance of the "end of art"thesis.This chapter elucidates the significance of art and philosophy as a whole for understanding the nature and value of art,and for spirit' s self-knowledge and its pursuit of freedom.Firstly,modern and contemporary philosophy hold that Hegel's philosophy has metaphysical characteristics,such as totality,subjectivity,mysteriousness of the dialectic,as well as the closedness of rationality and logic.Thus,Hegel's philosophy is criticized.At the same time,from the perspective of Marx' philosophy,Hegel's philosophy and understanding of art have shortcomings in terms of reality and practice because it highlights logic and the idea.Secondly,in Hegel's thought,both art and philosophy are ways to realize the absolute spirit.Although Hegel ultimately believes that philosophy is higher than art,art has its own irreplaceable value.Art expresses truth and the spiritual freedom in a unique way.Art and philosophy should not form an antagonistic relationship,but should form a unity or a whole.Therefore,this chapter indicates that art and philosophy as a whole or unity reveals the essence of Hegel's aesthetics as the philosophy of art.This conclusion helps to respond to the problems faced by Hegel's philosophy,and it can also be regarded as the contemporary significance of Hegel's thesis of the "end of art".The seventh chapter are the conclusions and outlook.In this paper,the study of Hegel's thesis of the "end of art" involves two closely related problems,which are the truthfulness of art and the relationship between art and philosophy.Art and philosophy are two ways of revealing the existential experience of human beings,and they share the same orientations,that is,they explore the absolute problems of each era.They are both truthful explorations and free pursuits on the problems of human cognition and existence.Therefore,this paper discusses the connotations of the "end of art" thesis and the nature of its related problems both in art and in philosophy,thus defending the truth of art.At the same time,it can strengthen the understanding of the relationship between art and philosophy.This paper holds that the combination of art and philosophy plays an important role in understanding the nature and significance of art,thus constituting the perspective for understanding the nature of the "end of art" thesis and its related problems,as well as the perspective for discussing the truthfulness of art.Meanwhile,taking art and philosophy as a whole is valuable for understanding human cognition and existence,so that it can be regarded as a contemporary significance of the "end of art" thesis.