Research On Friedrich Schiller’s Thoughts About Aesthetic Education

Friedrich Schiller is one of the important figures during the period of the German classical aesthetics,he’s father of aesthetic education.In the beginning,this thesis gives some descriptions of the background of Schiller’s times,both society and philosophy,in order to introduce Schiller’s explanation:natural country and moral humanity cannot be match,therefore the country should be reformed,not by the way of violence revolution,but the reform of humanity.However,the humanity was split in that times,during the unbalance of the reason and emotion,that held up the reform of the country.The problem of how to deal with humanity splitting is emergent to Schiller,who thought there is only one way-----aesthetic education.He claimed the beautiful appearance of arts can make one calm from deep heart,this finally improve one potentially.He advocated a very high ideal beauty as a typical one,from which people can find their warp and make remedy in time.Therefore,aesthetic experience can play a part in education.This thesis tries to figure out Schiller’s argument on how aesthetic education can deal with social problems,as well as the enlightenment to Chinese contemporary aesthetic education by reading and analyzing Schiller’s writings.Firstly,Schiller’s analysis on beauty laid a good foundation for his thoughts about aesthetic education.He claimed that the essence of beauty is related to the essence of humanity.Only fine art can make relationship between reason and emotion by playing impulse,named living form,which is the third impulse in humanity,besides emotional impulse and rational impulse-----these two impulses are contradict,so it is very difficult to get peace and free for human.The playing impulse is a kind of beauty in the broadest sense,which can make a bridge between emotional impulse and rational impulse,and it can also break the restrictions these two impulse bring.That can make one change to be a well-rounded person and have excellent personality,therefore,the emotion and reason,finitude and infinitude,necessity and freedom can be united.Secondly,Schiller also made an argument on the necessity of aesthetic education.It is necessary for society and countries to take aesthetic education,since beauty can united the opposing sides and can enlighten people as a typical ideal.But Schiller thought that the aesthetic education is the way to political freedom,that makes his thoughts too ideal to realize.In fact,if the government take aesthetic education after the political freedom has been realized,the consequence will be very different.So we can try in this way now in China.In the end,this thesis emphasizes the value and importance of Schiller thoughts about aesthetic education by relating it to social issues today in China.Our reforms have been done and the system of moral nation has been constructed,it’s time for us to take aesthetic education.Actually,it is always been ignored and been regarded as not as important as knowledge education,moral education,and physical education.There are two reasons for that,one is that the consequence of aesthetic education cannot be realized immediately,which is it’s character;the other is that our citizens have not recognized the significance of aesthetic education.All of us should do our best to advance the aesthetic education.